Man with epilepsy charged in fatal head-on crash

SUMNER, Wash. (AP) — Pierce County prosecutors have charged a Lakewood man suffering from epilepsy with vehicular homicide and assault. They say his doctors told him not to drive before a head-on crash in Sumner that killed a 76-year-old woman and injured her daughter.

The Tacoma News Tribune reports that Justice Heckart's arraignment is set for June. 15.

Heckart climbed into his grandmother's car in January to get some coffee near their Lakewood home. Witnesses say Heckart was trying to pass another car when he struck the Nissan Maxima head-on. Police say Heckart likely suffered an epileptic seizure.

The head-on collision killed Helen Stolp and severely injured her 55-year-old daughter.

Deputy Prosecutor Tim Jones says Heckart's doctors had warned him against driving because of the possibility of having seizures.