Weller caused the damages and killed people. The City of Santa Monica did not. The victims' lawyers looking for big bucks rightfully had their lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica thrown out.
Weller was speeding through the market in order to flee the scene of an accident in which he was involved OUTSIDE OF the market. Like others who live in the area, he was well aware of the Wednesday Farmers Market. He knowingly drove around a barrier to the market -- including a "Road Closed" sign -- and accelerated as he did so, reaching a top speed of 60 mph.
As I recall, he claimed something like the accelerator locked and he couldn't brake. However, he never attempted to brake, as witnesses never saw brake lights on the car.
He hit several people hard enough to kill them and severely injure them. He did not stop because of that. He had a body dragging on the underside of his vehicle. He did not stop because of that. He had a body embedded into his windshield. He did not stop because of that. Bodies were literally "flying." He did not stop.
He was conscious the entire time. He was known to be an alert, active individual.
Sure, it makes people uncomfortable charging an old guy, but he never admitted responsibility for killing all those people and ruining the lives of the permanently injured.