Repeat Drunk Driver Charged with Murder for His Second Fatal Crash

Published on November 26, 2025

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against Daniel Lemus (27, of Reedley) for his role as the driver in a fatal traffic collision that occurred in the early morning hours of November 7, 2025.

It is alleged that just before 1:00 a.m., Lemus was driving eastbound on Manning Avenue approaching South Mendocino Avenue when he rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a red light. Lemus used his vehicle to flee from that collision southbound on S. Mendocino Avenue at a high rate of speed. Lemus drove more than two miles from the first crash to the intersection of S. Mendocino and East Rose Avenue, where he rear-ended a Ford Mustang at a high rate of speed. The Mustang was driven by a 17-year-old male, who was seriously injured in the collision and succumbed to his injuries several days later. Investigation by the California Highway Patrol revealed that Lemus was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collisions.

One month prior to his fatal collision, Lemus was stopped for failing to stop at a stop sign in the City of Selma. Investigation by the Selma Police Department revealed that Lemus was driving while under the influence of alcohol, and his license was taken away following that arrest. Charges related to both collisions have been filed against Lemus. In both instances, it is alleged that Lemus had a blood alcohol concentration above .15% at the time of driving.

The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court charges Daniel Lemus with seven counts:

• One (1) Count of MURDER [Penal Code §187];
• One (1) Count of GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WHILE IMPAIRED [Penal Code § 191.5(a)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OVER .08 CAUSING INJURY [Vehicle Code § 23153(b)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL CAUSING INJURY [Vehicle Code § 23153(a)];
• One (1) Count of FAILING TO PERFORM A DUTY FOLLOWING A COLLISION [Vehicle Code § 20002(a)];
• One (1) Count of DRIVING WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OVER .08 [Vehicle Code § 23152(b)], and;
• One (1) Count of DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [Vehicle Code § 23152(a)];

The November 7, 2025 collision was not Lemus’ first fatal collision. In 2019, Lemus failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of East South Avenue and South Alta Avenue. He broadsided another vehicle and killed an 8-year-old boy in the other car. Lemus was prosecuted by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter in 2021.

If convicted, Lemus faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years to life in prison.

Lemus was arrested on an arrest warrant on November 25, 2025, by officers of the California Highway Patrol and remains in custody. He is scheduled to be arraigned on December 1, 2025, at 8:30a.m. in Department 31 of the Fresno Superior Court.

The case is being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program. Funding for the program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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