San Francisco Man Charged After Red-Light Crash Kills Two in Daly City

A 28-year-old San Francisco man is in custody without bail, accused of running a red light while drunk and crashing into a car in Daly City last Sunday, killing both people inside, San Mateo County prosecutors said this week.

What prosecutors allege

The crash happened Oct. 4 at the intersection of San Jose Avenue and Flournoy Street, near the San Francisco line. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, Alvaro Caballero Arteaga sped through a red light and broadsided another vehicle. The driver, Rhiannon Lawler, and her passenger, Agustin Garcia, were killed.

Hoodline, citing KRON4, reported that Lawler, 46, of San Francisco, was going through the intersection on a green light and died at the scene, and that Garcia, 50, of Daly City, died on the way to the hospital. Hoodline also reported that Caballero Arteaga is charged with murder. Prosecutors in California can bring murder charges in fatal DUI cases when they believe a driver knew the dangers of drinking and driving, often because of a prior arrest or conviction.

That history is central here. Prosecutors said a preliminary alcohol screening put Caballero Arteaga's blood alcohol level at 0.15%, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08%. Hoodline, citing the district attorney's office, said that reading came about three hours after the collision. Investigators also found that his driver's license had been suspended after an arrest in Alameda County in February for misdemeanor drunk driving, the DA's office said.

Next court date

Caballero Arteaga made his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 7. He did not enter a plea and was assigned a lawyer through San Mateo County's Private Defender Program, which provides defense attorneys for people who cannot afford one. He is due back in court Oct. 15 for further arraignment and remains held on no-bail status, according to prosecutors.

The charges are allegations, and Caballero Arteaga is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Prosecutors have not released further details about the crash, including the exact time it happened.