A 22-year-old man turned himself in to Fresno authorities for his involvement in a hit-and-run crash that killed a mother and her young son, police said.
Timothy Seth Chavez surrendered at Fresno County Jail about 9 p.m. Monday. Earlier that day, the coroner’s office identified the victims as Martha Hernandez, 41, and Adrian Hernandez, 9, of Fresno.
Chavez was taken to the Fresno Police Department and interviewed, police said.
Officers determined he was responsible and charged Chavez with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of felony hit-and-run.
He was also charged with driving without insurance and driving on a suspended license.
Timothy Seth Chavez, 22, turned himself in to Fresno authorities Monday night in connection to the hit-and-run crash that resulted in a mother and young child drowning in a canal. Fresno Police Department
About 2 a.m. Monday morning, officers responded to reports of a crash near McKinley Avenue and Fresno Street. One vacated car was found in the middle of McKinley, while another was spotted in the canal.
Officers initially recovered the Martha Hernandez’s body, and they later found her son in the canal about two miles away.
Fresno police chief Mindy Casto said Hernandez was exiting Highway 41 at McKinley Avenue when a Honda Pilot allegedly ran a red light, crashing into her vehicle.
The force of the crash launched Hernandez’s car into the canal, Casto said.
The Fresno Bee
Nick Fenley is a reporter covering education, lawsuits, breaking news and more for The Fresno Bee. He’s originally from the Imperial Valley and earned an English degree from San Diego State before studying at the University of Vermont. He has been with The Bee since 2025 after relocating from Arizona.