Coulterville man faces murder charge after fatal DUI crash in Stanislaus County
A Coulterville man faces a life sentence after being charged with murder and driving under the influence in connection with a traffic collision that killed an Oakdale man and injured another individual.
Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced Monday that Nicholas Anthony Martinez, 34, was charged with murder and other related offenses, including driving with a blood alcohol level of .15% or greater and having a prior DUI conviction.
The collision happened on Dec. 21 on Highway 120 west of Pioneer Avenue. Martinez was allegedly driving a 2007 GMC pickup with a .15% blood alcohol level when he swerved into the opposing lane of traffic. He struck a 2014 Chevrolet pickup driven by Simon Gutierrez Castaneda of Oakdale.
Castaneda, 64, was transported to Doctors Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. His passenger, Eddie Cortes, 54, of Palmdale, also suffered major injuries and was taken to Memorial Medical Center for treatment. California Highway Patrol provided no update on Cortes’ medical condition.
Due to weather conditions, an air ambulance could not be used, and all injured parties were transported to local hospitals by ground ambulance.
Martinez was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter. After a medical evaluation, he was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.
“Tragedies like this are preventable,” said District Attorney Jeff Laugero in a press statement. “Those that choose to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and injure or kill someone as a result will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including murder. The devastating impact of these cases demands it.”
