Coroner Identifies Two Men Killed in Fresno Car Accident
FRESNO, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2025) — Robert Ruiz Castro, 71, and Raymond Leigh Sandoval, 62, both of Fresno, died in a crash Monday night involving a suspected DUI driver at Belmont and Palm avenues in Fresno.
The alleged DUI driver, identified as 36-year-old Joal Lee Campbell, now faces multiple charges.
Police say it happened just before 7:20 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6th at the Fresno intersection, according to ABC 30 News.
The suspect was driving a black Ford Ranger pickup truck with his headlights off and allegedly drove through a red traffic light before hitting a gold-colored pickup truck at the intersection.
Upon impact, the gold truck overturned several times and landed on its roof in a gas station parking lot.
Bystanders who were in the store at the gas station ran out to help the two injured men trapped in the truck.
Unfortunately, one man in the truck died at the scene, and the other died at Community Regional Medical Center.
DUI Suspect is Repeat Drunk Driver
Meanwhile, paramedics treated the suspect and transported him to the hospital. Police also reported that Campbell’s blood-alcohol content was nearly three times above the legal limit. He also tested positive for methamphetamine and THC.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is expected to charge the man with two counts of murder as well as multiple other charges. Those other charges are driving under the influence, DUI causing great bodily injury, DUI causing great bodily injury with a combination of drugs and alcohol, driving on a suspended license, and failure to stop for a red light.
The murder charge stems in part because he has a previous DUI conviction with reckless driving in 2010 and a warrant for a violation from a second DUI arrest in 2021.
Also, Campbell has a previous conviction from a residential burglary in 2014. Under California’s Three Strikes Law, these new offenses could be a third strike for him.
He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow (Jan. 9) for his arraignment, according to ABC 30 News
The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner released the names of the two men who died.
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Johnson Attorneys Group is a personal injury law firm serving clients who are injured in California due to a negligent motorist. If you would like to contribute any information or have legal questions, please call 1-(855) 703-4186 as soon as possible. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
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