California Dad Charged With Murder of 5-Year-Old Daughter Killed in DUI Crash
Police tape seals off a house in Chester after healthcare professional, Lucy Letby, working at the Countess of Chester Hospital was arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to kill six others, on July 4, 2018 in Chester, United Kingdom. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A California father is charged with murder following his five-year-old daughter's death in a suspected DUI crash.

Police said on Wednesday that Ernesto Avalos, 28, was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, which left his daughter dead and another child injured.

According to People, Avalos is also facing two felony counts of child endangerment and a felony DUI apart from the murder charge.

California Father and DUI Accident

The five-year-old girl, identified as Alexa Avalos, lost her life after the car driven by her father crossed the center median and slammed on an electrical pole, New York Post reported.

The crash happened outside San Bernardino on Sunday. The Colton Police Department Officers responded at the scene around 2:25 p.m., and authorities discovered the two children inside the car.

All three were rushed to the hospital, where Alexa was pronounced dead. The officers' preliminary investigation revealed that the car was traveling southbound when it crashed on the pole located on the northbound lane of the road.

Alexa Avalos was confirmed to be the only daughter of Ernesto and Stephanie Fisher. A GoFundMe campaign was launched by Alexa's uncle, Timothy Fisher, to seek financial help and prayers for the death of the five-year-old girl.

"The memories will remain, however, nothing can the place of Alexa in our life," said Timothy Fisher. Photos of Alexa's last moment with her mother were posted by her uncle on the page created.

Meanwhile, details regarding the other child's identity inside the car were not released by the authorities who are working on the case. At the time of the crash, Ernesto Avalos is already facing a misdemeanor DUI charge. Currently, he is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center.

DUI Accidents in California

DUI or driving under the influence is one of the major causes of road accidents in California and other states.

Krasney Law described the people who insist on driving even with alcohol and drugs' influence to be thoughtless and irresponsible.

The charge for driving under the influence of alcohol in California differs based on the driver's age and whether the vehicle is driven privately or commercially.

A driver can be charged with DUI or DWI if he or she is 21 years old with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of 0.01 percent or higher, over 21 years of age with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, and driving a commercial vehicle with 0.004 percent or higher BAC.

Krasny Law noted that the injured or killed victim's family could claim compensation for lost wages and medical bills.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that about 10,327 individuals died due to car accidents involving drunk drivers from 2003 to 2012. Around 1.8 percent of drivers from California have admitted to driving while they are intoxicated.

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