The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has charged David Alvarado, 54, of Madera, with multiple counts, including murder, following a fatal crash on Saturday, May 18.

David Alvarado

Alvarado, driving a Ford F250 pickup truck north on Highway 41 at Manning Avenue, collided with vehicles stopped at a red light. The high-speed crash resulted in the deaths of Mary Hardin, 65, and Paul Hardin, 69, both of Helotes, Texas, and injured another motorist, the DA’s office said.

The California Highway Patrol’s investigation showed that Alvarado was impaired at the time of the accident. A breath analysis conducted indicated his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

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The felony complaint filed in Superior Court charges Alvarado with:

• 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) driving with a blood alcohol concentration over .08% causing great bodily injury (Vehicle Code §23153(b)/Penal Code §12022.7(a))
• One (1) driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury (Vehicle Code §23153(a)/Penal Code §12022.7(a))
• One (1) driving with a suspended license based on a prior DUI conviction and causing injury (Vehicle Code §14601.4(a))
• One (1) driving with a .01% or higher BAC while on DUI probation (Vehicle Code §23154(a))

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Alvarado has six previous DUI convictions, from incidents in 1997, 2005, 2006, twice in 2019, and 2021, authorities said. If convicted on the current charges, he faces a sentence of five years plus 30 years to life in state prison.

Alvarado was arrested by CHP officers and remains in custody. His arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday in Department 32 of Fresno Superior Court.

The case is being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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