Former Dinuba School Principal Faces Life in Prison for DUI Deaths of Mom, Daughter

By Anthony W. Haddad

Published 1 month ago on

August 14, 2024

A former school principal from Dinuba faces murder charges after a December 2023 DUI collision that killed a mother and daughter and injured others, the Tulare County DA's office announced Wednesday. (Video Screenshot)

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Dinuba man is facing murder charges in connection with a December 2023 DUI collision that killed a mother and daughter, leaving others injured, the Tulare County DA’s office announced Wednesday.

Blake Benham, 43, a former school principal, is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

In addition to these charges, Benham faces two counts of driving under the influence causing injury with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.15 percent, and causing great bodily injury to two other victims.

Benham is accused of killing Gloria Barajas, 55, and her daughter, Brenda Quinonez, 35, in a crash last December on Road 56 near Avenue 430 near Reedley.

Benham was arrested Wednesday by the California Highway Patrol and is expected to be arraigned this week. He was previously arrested but made bail and got out of jail.

If convicted on all charges, Benham could face life in prison. The case is being investigated by the CHP Visalia Area Central Division.

Benham is on administrative leave from his position as principal of Kennedy Elementary School.

DON'T MISS

Murder Rates Spiked Under Trump. Biden Had an Answer.

DON'T MISS

Project 2025 to California: Report Abortion Data or Lose Billions in Medicaid

DON'T MISS

Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

DON'T MISS

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

DON'T MISS

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

DON'T MISS

How Hamas Uses Brutality to Maintain Power

DON'T MISS

A College Degree While Still in High School? More Valley Students Are Doing It

DON'T MISS

CHP Traffic Stop Bust Yields $1.3 Million Cocaine Seizure

DON'T MISS

Nelson Mandela Monument Unveiled in Fresno State Peace Garden

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

UP NEXT

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

UP NEXT

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

UP NEXT

How Hamas Uses Brutality to Maintain Power

UP NEXT

A College Degree While Still in High School? More Valley Students Are Doing It

UP NEXT

CHP Traffic Stop Bust Yields $1.3 Million Cocaine Seizure

UP NEXT

Nelson Mandela Monument Unveiled in Fresno State Peace Garden

UP NEXT

Southern California Wildfire Generates Rare ‘Fire Clouds,’ Visible from Space

UP NEXT

Canning Makes a Comeback: New Interest in Old-Time Food Preservation

UP NEXT

NFL Tries to Tackle Tackling with a New Next Gen Statistic

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.