Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Visalia Man Gets Life Sentence for DUI Crash That Killed Pregnant Mother and Her Baby
Tony tries to stay on the Website
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 4 months ago on
July 3, 2024

David Edma, 30, of Visalia, was sentenced to life in prison for a 2018 DUI crash that killed a pregnant woman and her baby. (Tulare County DA's Office)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A 30-year-old Visalia man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for a DUI crash that resulted in two deaths, the Tulare County District Attorney’s office said.

On June 15, 2018, California Highway Patrol officers responded to a head-on collision on State Highway 63, south of Avenue 392 near Cutler.

David Edma was found unconscious and pinned in his vehicle. The other vehicle carried a family: An adult male driver, his 20-weeks-pregnant wife, and their three minor children.

The expectant mother was rushed to a hospital in Fresno where both she and her baby died after the child was delivered. The remaining family members suffered serious injuries, including broken clavicles, pulmonary contusions, broken hips, and a perforated bowel.

At the scene, a beer can was found between Edma’s legs, and subsequent tests revealed a blood-alcohol level of .24%, three times the legal limit. Edma had a prior misdemeanor DUI conviction from 2017 and was on probation for that offense at the time of the crash.

Convicted of Two Counts of Second-Degree Murder

On March 12, Edma was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder with special allegations, including causing great bodily injury, using a deadly weapon (his car), committing the crime while on probation, and engaging in violent conduct indicating he is a serious danger to society.

He was also convicted of felony DUI with great bodily injury for the male driver and three children, misdemeanor driving while his license was suspended, and unlawful vehicle operation.

As part of his 2017 DUI sentence, Edma had enrolled in drunk driving classes and signed a Watson Admonishment, which warned of the potential for murder charges if he killed someone while driving under the influence.

According to California sentencing laws, Edma must serve 30 years in custody, not including California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation credits, before he can be considered for parole.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Former Judge Appears in Fresno Court as Defendant. Top Defenders Represent Him.

DON'T MISS

Suicides in the US Military Increased in 2023, Continuing a Long-Term Trend

DON'T MISS

Average Rate on 30-Year Mortgage in US Slips to 6.78%

DON'T MISS

Trump Hammered Democrats on Transgender Issues. Now the Party Is at Odds on a Response

DON'T MISS

What Are Recess Appointments and How Could Trump Use Them to Fill His Cabinet?

DON'T MISS

Which Landmarks and Businesses Are Featured on Monopoly Fresno Edition?

DON'T MISS

Warren Buffett Is Sitting on Over $325 Billion Cash as Berkshire Hathaway Sells Apple Stock

DON'T MISS

Trump Chooses Anti-Vaccine Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Health Secretary

DON'T MISS

Let the Games Begin: 2026 Campaign for CA Governor Looms

DON'T MISS

Liberal Legal Group Positions Itself as a Top Trump Administration Foe

UP NEXT

Suicides in the US Military Increased in 2023, Continuing a Long-Term Trend

UP NEXT

Average Rate on 30-Year Mortgage in US Slips to 6.78%

UP NEXT

Trump Hammered Democrats on Transgender Issues. Now the Party Is at Odds on a Response

UP NEXT

What Are Recess Appointments and How Could Trump Use Them to Fill His Cabinet?

UP NEXT

Which Landmarks and Businesses Are Featured on Monopoly Fresno Edition?

UP NEXT

Warren Buffett Is Sitting on Over $325 Billion Cash as Berkshire Hathaway Sells Apple Stock

UP NEXT

Trump Chooses Anti-Vaccine Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Health Secretary

UP NEXT

Liberal Legal Group Positions Itself as a Top Trump Administration Foe

UP NEXT

Which Four California Cities Are in the US Top 20 for Most Rats?

UP NEXT

Satire Publication The Onion Buys Alex Jones’ Infowars at Auction With Sandy Hook Families’ Backing

Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and has an MBA at Fresno State, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

Trump Hammered Democrats on Transgender Issues. Now the Party Is at Odds on a Response

47 minutes ago

What Are Recess Appointments and How Could Trump Use Them to Fill His Cabinet?

52 minutes ago

Which Landmarks and Businesses Are Featured on Monopoly Fresno Edition?

1 hour ago

Warren Buffett Is Sitting on Over $325 Billion Cash as Berkshire Hathaway Sells Apple Stock

2 hours ago

Trump Chooses Anti-Vaccine Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Health Secretary

2 hours ago

Let the Games Begin: 2026 Campaign for CA Governor Looms

3 hours ago

Liberal Legal Group Positions Itself as a Top Trump Administration Foe

4 hours ago

Which Four California Cities Are in the US Top 20 for Most Rats?

4 hours ago

Satire Publication The Onion Buys Alex Jones’ Infowars at Auction With Sandy Hook Families’ Backing

5 hours ago

Black and Latino Families Displaced From Palm Springs Neighborhood Reach Tentative Settlement

5 hours ago

Former Judge Appears in Fresno Court as Defendant. Top Defenders Represent Him.

A retired Fresno County judge facing sexual assault charges is now represented by two legal heavy hitters. Adolfo Corona appeared in court T...

14 minutes ago

14 minutes ago

Former Judge Appears in Fresno Court as Defendant. Top Defenders Represent Him.

38 minutes ago

Suicides in the US Military Increased in 2023, Continuing a Long-Term Trend

43 minutes ago

Average Rate on 30-Year Mortgage in US Slips to 6.78%

47 minutes ago

Trump Hammered Democrats on Transgender Issues. Now the Party Is at Odds on a Response

52 minutes ago

What Are Recess Appointments and How Could Trump Use Them to Fill His Cabinet?

1 hour ago

Which Landmarks and Businesses Are Featured on Monopoly Fresno Edition?

Shareholder Tina Schmidt of Cozad, Neb., wears a shirt with Warren Buffett's portrait in the style of an Andy Warhol painting at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting on May 4, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (AP File)
2 hours ago

Warren Buffett Is Sitting on Over $325 Billion Cash as Berkshire Hathaway Sells Apple Stock

2 hours ago

Trump Chooses Anti-Vaccine Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Health Secretary

Search

Send this to a friend