State Prison Sentence in DUI Death

Yesterday in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Bryan Buhl, age 45, of Visalia, to 19 years in state prison for a DUI crash that took the life of 55-year-old motorcyclist John Bolin.

On Thursday, July 2nd, 2020, at 8:30 p.m. while driving his van on Caldwell near West Street in Visalia, defendant Buhl failed to see the victim who was on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Buhl made a U-turn in front of the victim and caused a collision that resulted in Bolin’s death. Buhl’s BAC at the time was .23%.

On December 20, 2022, with the support of the victim’s family, prosecutors accepted Buhl’s plea of no contest to gross vehicular manslaughter DUI with gross negligence and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and great bodily injury. Buhl has prior DUI convictions from 1997, 2014, and 2019.

“Mr. Bolin was a beloved member of his family and this community,” said prosecutor Noell Niayesh. “His family and friends never lost sight of justice, and we thank them for their patience and support.”

The case was prosecuted by senior deputy district attorney Noell Niayesh and was investigated by the Visalia Police Department.

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