Sunil, 31, was arraigned in Fresno County Superior Court on Friday on multiple felony counts, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, after a fatal collision that killed 26‑year‑old Delia Valladares on a Wednesday morning.
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers first responded to a traffic collision near Elm and American avenues at 6:12 a.m. The driver, who later admitted to being under the influence, claimed he had struck a parked vehicle hours earlier, a statement investigators found inconsistent with the damage to his car.
Police later discovered the victim’s body and vehicle debris in the same area, and found evidence linking the crash to Sunil’s sedan, which had a damaged front grill and a missing seat belt that matched the scene.
Sunil was apprehended at a residence on Williamette Avenue, close to Washington Union High School, and was taken to the Fresno County Detention Center on a booking warrant. He had no prior DUI convictions, but prosecutors argue his intoxication level was so high that he failed to comprehend the gravity of his actions.
A legal analyst, Tony Capozzi, told ABC News that fleeing the scene can add four to five years to a sentence and highlighted the seriousness of the offense.
The victim’s family, who are still grieving, expressed anger at the driver’s escape. The court will set a sentencing date next month, where prosecutors will seek the maximum penalty.