Matthew Pumar, the Mountain View driver accused of hitting and killing a man who was waiting for the bus, is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 27, according Duffy Magilligan, the deputy district attorney handling the case.

At hearing a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, Magilligan said.

Pumar, who pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of gross vehicular manslaughter on Sept. 26, is alleged to have been driving recklessly at the time of the accident, according to Magilligan and a police report.

According to police, on June 21, the 22-year-old Pumar sped through a red light, swerved to avoid a truck entering the intersection, lost control of his car and then ran into William Ware, a well-known Mountain View resident who was waiting for a bus in the 1800 block of California Street. Ware was killed by the violent impact of the collision.

Pumar remained on the scene and cooperated with police and investigators. He was arrested on July 10 after the investigation was completed. He immediately posted $100,000 bail and was released.

Dolores Marquez, Ware's niece, said she was upset with Pumar's plea in an interview with the Voice shortly after the plea was made.

"It's hard to hear someone not hold themselves accountable for something that was so obvious," Marquez said.

Pumar's last court appearance was on Oct. 24.

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