A 29-year-old man with multiple prior DUI convictions has been charged with second-degree murder for a fatal pedestrian collision on October 1 in San Francisco's Excelsior neighborhood.
The crash happened around 7:05 pm on October 1 at the intersection of Moscow Street and France Avenue. SFPD officers were called to the scene on a report of a hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian.
In the crosswalk they found a 43-year-old man suffering from life-threatening injuries, and he was transported to the hospital for treatment. The victim succumbed to his injuries last week, on October 19.
A witness was able to snap a photo of the suspect vehicle's license plate, which police then quickly obtained, and the SFPD’s Real Time Investigation Center (RTIC) initiated a search for the vehicle using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR).
With help from an ALPR, a plainclothes officer spotted the suspect vehicle about three miles away from the scene shortly after the crash. The suspect was quickly detained without incident and identified as 29-year-old David Maldonado Sanabria. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI.
As District Attorney Brooke Jenkins explained at a press conference Tuesday (see below), Maldonado Sanabria has two prior DUI convictions, which led to the second-degree murder charge he is now facing. He was scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm Tuesday.
Investigators say, via the witness, that Maldonado Sanabria, after striking the victim and knocking him backwards onto the pavement, slowed down to look at the victim before driving off and fleeing the scene.
“This is a tragedy,” Jenkins said. “This man was just over 40 years old who died. And lost his life just walking down the street.”
Jenkins said that her office was filing a motion to have Maldonado Sanabria held in custody pending trial because of the "significant risk to public safety" that he poses.
In addition to the murder charge, Maldonado Sanabria faces charges of DUI causing fatality with reckless disregard for human life, fleeing the scene of an injury collision, fleeing the scene of a fatal collision, and violating probation.
Jenkins noted the timing of these charges being filed just days before Halloween, which falls on a Saturday, and which means there may be more adults out on in the streets celebrating and drinking. She urged everyone to use public transit, rideshares, or arrange for a sober driver to get home.
While an arrest has been made, this is still an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444, or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters can remain anonymous.
