'We all need justice': 2 victims in fatal DUI crash in Fresno County named by family
Jan 23, 2025
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — A man who allegedly killed four people in a tragic car crash appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, and the family of two of the victims in the crash were grieving their deaths, asking for "justice."
Sean Guynes pled not guilty, and prosecutors said he was driving under the influence.
DA: Kerman man lies about involvement in crash that killed 4
Fresno County District Attorney prosecutors said 32-year-old Sean Guynes, of Kerman, was driving a Ford near Floyd and Shaw Avenues on Jan. 10 when he drove into oncoming traffic that had the right of way.
California Highway Patrol officials said he crashed into a Nissan Altima with Sandy Carmona Rodriguez and her cousin, Luis inside.
Officials said both cars caught on fire, killing the pair in the Nissan, along with two others.
"We just, it hurts us seeing him standing there while we lost someone, especially like my mom. It just, it hurts are seeing that, you know, she had to lose her son and then you have to come and look the person who did it in their eyes," Rodriguez said.
Officers said Guynes told them he was a passenger —but the DA said an investigation by California Highway Patrol revealed that Guynes was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
"We're just a ball of emotions right now. It's just because it was so sudden and tragic," Ernesto Orozco said.
The District Attorney's office said he was "noticeably intoxicated," adding Guynes was previously convicted of a DUI in 2018 in Fresno County.
Analuisa Carmona Rodriguez said her brother Luis was just starting his life.
"His birthday's coming up. He was just going to turn 19. You know, he lived a great life. He had so much fun. He was never shy. He was a super outgoing person," Rodriguez said.
Orozco was grieving the loss of his sister-in-law Sandy, who was only 20 years old.
"She was just a ball of joy. She was life. She was just so much energy," Orozco said. "It's just tragic, sudden. And, you know, other deaths you can kind of prepare, this one, just one of those things where it's just out of the blue and it's just so sudden."
Guynes faces four counts of murder, up to 60 years in prison, and is being charged with driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI conviction.
"It's a lot of families involved. And we all need justice, and we all need this type of comfort. Just it's not even comfort. It's just for us to know that, okay, something's getting done and it's just not left being undone," Rodriguez said.
Guynes' bail is set at $4 million and is expected to be in court on March 13.
Those who would like to donate to Sandy and Luis' GoFundMe can click here for Luis and here for Sandy.