DA: Former elementary school principal, arrested, charged for 2023 DUI crash near Reedley

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A antheral has been arrested and charged connected Wednesday with a DUI for a postulation collision successful 2023 adjacent Reedley that caused the decease of a parent and daughter, according to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office.

Officials accidental connected Dec. 3, 43-year-old Blake Benham was progressive successful a clang astatine Road 56 and Avenue 530, conscionable southbound of Reedley.

According to officials, Benham was the Principal astatine John F. Kennedy Elementary School successful Dinuba.

Officials accidental Benham was driving nether the power and a parent and girl passed distant arsenic a effect of the crash. Others were besides injured.

California Highway Patrol says it was reported that 1 person, who has been identified arsenic Benham, was driving a motortruck that drifted into the oncoming lane of postulation and crashed head-on into a tiny SUV with 4 people.

The DA says Benham was charged with 2 counts of homicide, 2 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter portion intoxicated, and 2 counts of driving portion nether the power causing wounded with a humor intoxicant level implicit 0.15%, and causing large bodily wounded to 2 further victims, arsenic good arsenic causing wounded to aggregate people.

According to the DA, if Benham is convicted helium faces beingness successful prison. The lawsuit is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol Visalia Area Central Division.