Prison Sentence for Deadly DUI Crash

On Monday, June 22, 2026, in Department 21 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, the court sentenced Oscar Lopez-Almeida, age 33, to 26 years in prison for a deadly 2020 DUI crash and jail fight.

Just before 6 pm on March 6, 2020, near the intersection of Ave 184 and Road 64 southwest of the city of Tulare, Lopez-Almeida swerved his Honda Civic into the oncoming lane. To avoid a collision, the victim swerved but was struck in the passenger side of the vehicle, killing his wife. According to the surviving victim, Lopez-Almeida got out of his car and apologized. A breath test resulted in a BAC of .187%.

On May 15, 2026, Lopez-Almeida pleaded no contest to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, driving privilege suspended due to prior DUI conviction within 5 years (Kings County, 2019), and assault with a deadly weapon. Aggravating factors included that the crimes caused great bodily injury, that the defendant used a weapon (vehicle), and that his criminal history was of increasing seriousness. For these crimes, the court sentenced Lopez-Almeida to 25 years in prison, the maximum allowed under California law.

While in custody at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in February 2024, Lopez-Almeida participated in a fight involving other inmates and battered a sheriff’s deputy. For that crime, Lopez-Almedia was sentenced to an additional year.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Noell Niayesh and was investigated by the California Highway Patrol.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494