Accused impaired driver ordered to trial on murder charges in Planz Rd crash
Jan 25, 2025
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A 26-year-old man has been ordered to stand trial in connection with an alleged drunken driving crash that killed two people.
A Superior Court judge on Friday found sufficient evidence for the case against Arturo Munoz to proceed, according to court records. Munoz is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, among other offenses, in the crash that killed Hortencia Garcia De Haro and Vanessa Lasarit Madrigal.
Munoz, held without bail, is due back in court Feb. 5.
Charging documents say Garcia De Haro, 30, died at the scene on the night of Feb. 9 when the Chevy Malibu she drove was broadsided by Munoz’s Chevy Tahoe on Planz Road between Hughes Lane and South H Street.
Vanessa Lasarit Madrigal, a passenger in the Malibu, died days later. Another passenger in the Malibu was injured.
It’s alleged the Tahoe was traveling faster than 85 mph, and Munoz had alcohol and marijuana in his system. He has three prior DUI convictions.