Man Faces Murder Charges for Fatal DUI Accident

A California man has been charged with second-degree murder after driving drunk, crashing his car, and killing a 10-year-old girl in the process.

Arnold Barraza Sr. was traveling at approximately 85 mph in a 55 mph zone when he lost control of his vehicle.  The car flipped, ran off the road, and landed in a grassy area.  Barraza was carrying three children in the car, ages 10, 4, and 1, as well as a front seat passenger, Cirena Martinez.

None of the children were in child seats and all three were thrown from the vehicle during the accident. The oldest child, 10-year-old Destiny Martinez-Gonzalez, died from her injuries. The four-year-old child has been released from the hospital, while the 1-year-old child and Martinez are still in the hospital.

A blood test indicated that Barraza's blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit. His murder charges are the highest possible charges for a DUI fatality.

This is also not Barraza's first run-in with the law.  He has three prior DUI convictions on his record, two from within the last 10 years.

If Barraza is found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If you have been charged with an elevated offense for causing a fatal DUI accident, click here to find an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney near you!