Homicide Conviction Secured in 2018 DUI Crash
Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Visalia man David Edma, age 29, for DUI murder.
On June 15, 2018, around 9:30 pm, California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to a collision on SR 63 south of Ave 392 near Cutler. When they arrived, they found two vehicles involved in a head-on crash. Edma was unconscious and pinned in his vehicle. The occupants of the second vehicle were a family including an adult male driver, his wife who was 20-weeks pregnant, and three minor children. The expectant mother was rushed to medical facilities in Fresno where the baby was delivered, but both mother and child died. The remaining victims were treated at other medical facilities after suffering broken clavicles, pulmonary contusions, broken hips, and a perforated bowel.
When Edma was removed from his vehicle, a beer can fell from between his legs. Tests on his blood revealed a .24% BAC. Edma already possessed a misdemeanor DUI conviction from 2017 with a high blood alcohol content and was on probation for that DUI at the time of this offense.
At trial, Edma was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder with the special allegations that he caused great bodily injury, used a deadly weapon (car), that he was on probation when the crime was committed, and that he engaged in violent conduct indicating he is a serious danger to society. In addition, he was convicted of felony DUI with great bodily injury for the male driver and the three children in the car, misdemeanor driving while license suspended, and unlawful vehicle operation.
As part of his sentence for the 2017 DUI, Edma enrolled in drunk driving classes and signed a Watson Admonishment dictating the future possible consequences of DUI that would include murder charges if the defendant drove drunk and killed someone.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 31, 2024, in Superior Court where Edma faces life in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Noell Niayesh and Senior District Attorney Nadya Hannah.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494