Unless he did something blatantly obviously more than "run a red light", that is probably all they are charging him with. It sucks.
If it's any comfort to you, which it probably isn't, he has to live with what he did for the rest of his life. I'm sure he's just a regular guy who screwed up and caused all this mess. As easy as it is to make him the bad guy, and I understand he was at fault, try not to forget that he's a person too, and he is probably completely wracked with guilt over this whole thing. I can't imagine having to live with having caused an accident like that.
And, you're right, regardless of what the court does or doesn't do to him, nothing changes. Either way you will have to find a way to forgive and move on, as unfair as that is.
