In most states a criminal conviction wins a civil summary judgement motion as a matter of law.
This is a Solomon moment the judge can not win. The man obviously thought he could save his car by going into the crowd where people would get out of the way. He paniced perhaps, did not think, definitly.
He may become a ward of the state anyways. He very well end up in one of those lowest end nightmare convalecent homes.
Self driving cars are hopefully going to make these events a thing of the past. (if a lexus can park itself, how soon before all cars can drive themselves.)