The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office filed one felony count and a serious-felony special allegation in an alleged DUI crash that led to a 60-year-old man’s death last month.
Martin Enrique Cazares, 21, a cook from Wasco, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and the enhancement he used a weapon, to wit, a motor vehicle, in the death of 60-year-old Bulmaro Alvarez Chavez.
Cazares was arrested shortly after the Nov. 8 crash by officers with the California Highway Patrol Newhall-area Office. They responded at 9:10 p.m. to a crash north of Templin Highway on Interstate 5, with the reporting party telling the 911 operator there might be a fatality, according to court records.
Officers reported a Toyota Camry, which they suspect Cazares of driving, crashed into the rear of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which propelled the Jeep into a dirt embankment, where it crashed, overturned and ended up blocking traffic in the roadway, according to a CHP report.
Alvarez was declared dead at the scene, according to officers.
A CHP report of the crash in court records indicated three independent witnesses reported that Cazares was driving recklessly prior to the crash.
He “displayed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication,” according to the investigating officer’s report. The suspect proceeded to admit to drinking prior to the crash and then failed field sobriety tests, according to a search warrant affidavit. His first blood-alcohol test came back with a reading of 0.12%, according to the CHP report.
A search-warrant request for the on-board computer in the 2020 Toyota Camry that Cazares was driving could provide important information to investigators about how the crash happened, according to court records from November.
Chavez, who also went by Jose Bulmaro Alvarez, was a beloved father, according to an online fundraising page created by friends of the family, who are raising support to help them through a difficult time. It’s raised about half its goal.
“With heavy hearts, we inform you that our beloved father, Jose Bulmaro Alvarez, has passed away and is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in his heavenly Kingdom. We will all deeply miss you, Papa. You were the pillar of our lives, and we are stronger than ever now.”
Cazares was initially held in lieu of $100,000 bail and then released on a bond the day after his arrest.
Cazares’ next court date was not immediately available Friday.
