SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputy will faces vehicular manslaughter charges in the March deaths of two prominent bicyclists who were killed in a collision with the vehicle the deputy was driving.

The tragic accident resonated throughout the Bay Area and had many cyclist groups demanding action.

Dmitry Badeka remains bitter about the experience. The Russian cycling coach with world-class credentials was working with 30-year-old Kristy Gough of San Leandro and 29-year old Matt Peterson of San Francisco, the two victims killed in the crash involving the Sheriff's Deputy, 27-year old James Council. A third cyclist, Christopher Knapp, also suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash.

Badeka pointed out Peterson won his first race the week before the accident and said Gough had just been accepted to the Olympic tryouts the day before she died.

Investigators say on March 9, Deputy Council was driving in the Cupertino foothills when he swerved across a double-yellow line into Gough and Peterson.

Thursday, the county district attorney's office filed two misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter against Council.

"We did some very substantial and sophisticated drug screening on a blood sample he gave voluntarily. We also looked at GPS data from his patrol car and we could tell his driving pattern immediately preceding the accident, which led us to eliminate more serious charges," explained Asst. District Attorney David Tomkins.

The DA's office declined to discuss whether Council fell asleep at the wheel as some witnesses claimed. If convicted, Council faces up to two years in county jail, a penalty that satisfied the victims' coach and other cyclists.

"It really sends out the notification that people need to be more aware of cyclists when they're riding," said rider Shawn Price

The Sheriff's Department expressed sympathies to the families and said the Sheriff's Deputy remains on administrative leave. Council, who did not make a statement, could be officially charged as early as Friday.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office says Council will be arraigned on August 4. He faces two misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges. If convicted, he could spend up to two years in the county jail.