The motorist suspected of driving in an impaired state when he struck a man on a motorized scooter in Morgan Hill will be back in court April 26, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The case against Dick Chappell, 83 of Los Gatos, was discussed in a scheduled hearing at South County Courthouse Thursday, according to South Santa Clara County supervising deputy district attorney Steve Lowney.
Chappell is charged with the felony of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, due to his involvement in the Oct. 23, 2011 traffic accident that killed San Jose resident Marschelle Syverson, 72, authorities said.
He pleaded not guilty Jan. 3. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
“He is now considering his options,” Lowney said by email following Thursday’s felony resolution hearing.
His next hearing is April 26, possibly for a new plea, Lowney said.
Syverson was riding a Segway motorized scooter through a crosswalk on Butterfield Boulevard at Jarvis Drive. Chappell was driving a vehicle through the intersection when he allegedly struck Syverson and the Segway, police said.
When officers arrived at the scene they found Syverson lying unconscious in the middle of the road, police said. He was transported to an area hospital where he died of injuries suffered in the accident.
Witnesses at the scene helped officers identify the suspect, who remained at the scene following the accident, police said. Chappell was arrested at the scene.
