Pacoima Man Charged With Murder in North Hollywood DUI Crash That Killed Two Pedestrians

A late-night DUI crash in North Hollywood has led to murder charges against a 32-year-old Pacoima driver who allegedly killed two pedestrians on April 12, 2026. Prosecutors filed two counts of murder under California’s “Watson murder” doctrine, each carrying 15 years to life.

These cases turn on prior DUI history, accident reconstruction, and proof of implied malice. The defense strategy in the first weeks after arrest can shape the entire outcome.

What Happened

A 32-year-old Pacoima resident has been charged with two counts of murder following a suspected DUI crash in North Hollywood that killed two pedestrians and left three other people injured. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed the charges on April 14, 2026, two days after the deadly collision on Colfax Avenue.

According to prosecutors, Vidal Cruz Jr. was driving a gray Acura northbound on Colfax Avenue, just north of Calvert Street, at approximately 2:25 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026, when he struck a man and a woman who had just exited a parked Toyota Camry. The Camry still had three occupants inside at the time of impact. After striking the pedestrians, the Acura continued northeast, colliding with several unoccupied parked vehicles before coming to rest in a private driveway, where it also caused damage to a nearby home.

The two pedestrians were identified as Nefi Lopez Gutierrez, 35, of El Monte and Azusena Gonzalez, 50, of North Hollywood. The male pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female pedestrian later died at a hospital. The three occupants of the Camry suffered only minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Investigators determined that Cruz was allegedly speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was transported to a hospital for treatment before being booked at Van Nuys Jail. Prosecutors filed the case as 26VWCF00785, and Cruz pleaded not guilty to both murder counts at his arraignment. Bail was set at $4 million, and his preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for May 27, 2026, in Department 122 of the Van Nuys Courthouse.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman called the case a “preventable loss of two lives” and pledged to pursue accountability to the fullest extent of the law. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Charges Involved

Murder Under California Penal Code § 187 (Watson Murder)

When a driver kills someone while driving under the influence, prosecutors can file second-degree murder charges under what’s commonly known as a “Watson murder” theory — named after the 1981 California Supreme Court case *People v. Watson*. The legal foundation is implied malice: the prosecution must prove the driver knew that driving while intoxicated was dangerous to human life and chose to do it anyway. Most California drivers receive what’s called a “Watson advisement” when they take a DUI class or plead guilty to a prior DUI, putting them on formal notice. Second-degree murder carries 15 years to life in state prison per count.

Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated

This is a related charge under Penal Code § 191.5(a) that prosecutors often file as an alternative or additional count. It carries 4, 6, or 10 years in state prison, plus enhancements for multiple victims. Unlike Watson murder, gross vehicular manslaughter does not require proof of implied malice — only gross negligence while driving under the influence.

DUI Causing Injury

Under Vehicle Code § 23153, driving under the influence and causing injury to another person is a wobbler that can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. As a felony, it carries up to 4 years in state prison, plus great bodily injury enhancements that can add 3 to 6 additional years per victim under Penal Code § 12022.7.

High Bail and Pretrial Detention

The $4 million bail in this case reflects how seriously courts treat alleged DUI murders involving multiple victims. Defendants in these cases often face significant pretrial detention, which makes early defense work especially important — including motions to reduce bail, challenges to blood-draw evidence, and accident-reconstruction analysis.

What Defendants and Their Families Should Know

If you or a loved one has been arrested in connection with a DUI-related death or serious injury crash, the most important thing to remember is your right to remain silent. Statements made to police at the hospital, at the scene, or in the back of a patrol car can become central evidence in a Watson murder prosecution. Politely decline to answer questions about how much you drank, where you were coming from, or what happened — and ask for an attorney before any further contact.

DUI murder cases are not ordinary DUI cases. They are built on a combination of blood-alcohol evidence, accident reconstruction, witness statements, and prior DUI history. A skilled defense attorney will examine whether the blood draw was lawful, whether field-sobriety tests were properly administered, whether the speed and cause-of-collision analysis is accurate, and whether the prosecution can actually prove implied malice — which is often the weakest link in a Watson case.

Families should also understand that prosecutors will move quickly to lock in evidence. Surveillance video, vehicle data recorder (“black box”) information, and toxicology results all need to be preserved and independently analyzed. The first 30 to 60 days after charging are critical for motions to suppress evidence, bail reduction hearings, and engaging accident reconstruction experts. Loved ones should also avoid discussing case details on jail phone calls, since those calls are recorded and routinely used by prosecutors.

Above all, remember that being charged is not the same as being convicted. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced criminal defense attorney can challenge the evidence at every stage, negotiate with prosecutors when appropriate, and protect a defendant’s constitutional rights from arraignment through trial.

Speak With a Criminal Defense Attorney Now

If you or someone you love is facing DUI murder, vehicular manslaughter, or felony DUI charges, time is critical. Attorney Chris Nalchadjian of KN Law Firm, APLC offers a free, confidential consultation and is available 24/7 to review your case and protect your rights. Call (888) 950-0011 to speak with a criminal defense attorney today.