San Francisco man charged with murder in Daly City collision that killed two people

REDWOOD CITY – A San Francisco man was charged with two counts of murder on Wednesday for allegedly killing two people in a vehicle collision in Daly City while driving under the influence of alcohol, prosecutors said.

Alvaro Fabian Caballero Arteaga, 28, was allegedly driving with a suspended drivers license for a previous misdemeanor DUI in Alameda County in February – allowing prosecutors to charge him with murder instead of a lesser charge because he was previously admonished about the dangers of driving while intoxicated, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Caballero Arteaga was also charged with one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license.

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said that the evidence in the case seems “to indicate that he (had) a very high blood alcohol” level and was traveling very fast – around 65 to 75 mph in a 25 or 30 mph zone.

“The entire incident is on surveillance video from that intersection and it just crushed that other car, killing both of the innocent victims,” Wagstaffe said. “We decided with that, that was enough to elevate it from vehicular manslaughter to second degree murder.”

Wagstaffe also noted that Caballero Arteaga does not have a long history of drunk driving.

An attorney for Caballero Arteaga could not be located on Friday. Caballero Arteaga was denied bail at a court hearing Wednesday and remains in custody.

Caballero Arteaga was traveling “at a high rate of speed” near the intersection of Flournoy Street and San Jose Avenue on Sunday when he drove through a red light, prosecutors said. He broadsided a vehicle that was traveling through the intersection with a green light.

The crash killed the vehicle’s driver Rhiannon Lawler and passenger Agustin Garcia, prosecutors said.

Investigators found that Caballero Arteaga showed “objective symptoms of intoxication” and had a blood alcohol level of 0.15% three hours after the incident, prosecutors added. A blood test to confirm his BAC is pending.

If convicted, Caballero Arteaga could face 30 years to life in prison, Wagstaffe added. He will next appear in court Oct. 15 for further arraignment.