Stockton man arrested on murder charge in Modesto crash that killed three

Authorities arrested a Stockton man on suspicion of murder Monday afternoon in connection with a fiery crash that killed three people last month.

The California Highway Patrol says Tobie Durham, 41, was driving the Jaguar that crashed at high speed into the back of a Honda that was stopped in the eastbound lanes of Kiernan Avenue at Tully Road on July 15.

The Jaguar lodged beneath the rear of the Honda and both caught fire. Durham allegedly ran from the scene but the driver and two passengers inside the Honda weren’t able to escape and succumbed to the flames.

The victims are driver Balmor Hernandez, 23, of Manteca, and front seat passenger Alexander Jolley, 23, of Stockton. The back seat passenger was preliminarily identified as a 25-year-old woman visiting from El Salvador, Hernandez’s cousin. Due to the condition of her body, the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office is awaiting DNA testing for her official identification.

All three died of acute soot and smoke inhalation.

CHP Officer Eric Parsons said investigating officers identified Durham as the suspect within 48 hours of the crash. The Jaguar was loaned to him by a friend who lives in Sacramento.

“For the last month, investigators have used a series of technology warrants and continued to search for his whereabouts based on information coming in from witnesses and evidence collected,” Parsons said.

On Monday Durham’s attorney contacted investigators and said he was ready to surrender.

Investigators arrested him at the attorney’s office, Parsons said. He did not know the name of his lawyer or the location of his office.

Durham is being held at the Stanislaus County jail without bail. A court date has not yet been scheduled.

This story was originally published August 23, 2016 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Stockton man arrested on murder charge in Modesto crash that killed three."