Six-Time DUI Offender Facing Murder Charges for Fatal Crash

Published on May 21, 2024

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against David Alvarado (54, of Madera) for his role in a fatal traffic crash that occurred in the evening hours of May 18, 2024. While driving a Ford F250 pickup truck north on Highway 41 at Manning Avenue at a high rate of speed, Alvarado crashed into vehicles stopped at a red light, claiming the lives of Mary and Paul Hardin (65 and 69, respectively, of Helotes, Texas) and injuring a third motorist. Investigation by the California Highway Patrol showed that Alvarado was driving impaired at the time of the crash. Chemical testing of Alvarado’s breath at the scene showed that the concentration of alcohol in his system was more than double the legal limit to operate a vehicle. The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court alleges that David Alvarado committed:

• Two (2) Counts of MURDER [Penal Code §187];
• Two (2) Counts of GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WHILE IMPAIRED WITH PRIOR CONVICTIONS [Penal Code §191.5(d)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OVER .08% CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY [Vehicle Code §23153(b)/Penal Code §12022.7(a)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY [Vehicle Code §23153(a)/Penal Code §12022.7(a)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE BASED ON A PRIOR DUI CONVICTION AND CAUSING INJURY [Vehicle Code §14601.4(a)], and;
• One (1) Count of DRIVING WITH A .01% OR HIGHER BAC WHILE ON DUI PROBATION [Vehicle Code §23154(a)]

Alvarado has been previously convicted of driving under the influence on six occasions, with offenses occurring in 1997, 2005, 2006, two in 2019, and 2021. If convicted of the charges and allegations in this case, Alvarado faces a sentence of five years plus 30-years-to-life in state prison. Alvarado was arrested by Officers of the California Highway Patrol and remains in custody. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 22nd, 2024, in Department 32 of the Fresno Superior Court. The case is being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program. Funding for the program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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