BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The California Board of Parole Hearings denied release to a man convicted of murder in a deadly DUI crash back in 2014, where he struck a car at 118 mph in southwest Bakersfield.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said on July 15, 2026, BPH found that Alex Rubio continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety.
The DA’s Office said on January 3, 2014, Rubio murdered Princess Almonidovar when he struck her car while traveling 118 mph near the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road in Bakersfield.
The DA’s Office said on January 3, 2014, Alex Rubio murdered Princess Almonidovar when he struck her car while traveling 118 mph near the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road in Bakersfield. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Rubio’s vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle with so much force that Rubio’s vehicle went airborne, rolled over, struck a traffic signal pole and utility box, and slid on its roof before coming to its rest, according to the DA’s Office. Half of the roof of the victim’s vehicle was found about 600 feet away from her vehicle.
RELATED: Man guilty on 6 counts in deadly Bakersfield crash
The DA’s Office said on January 3, 2014, Alex Rubio murdered Princess Almonidovar when he struck her car while traveling 118 mph near the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road in Bakersfield. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
The victim, Almonidovar, who was 22-years-old at the time, died at the scene. Rubio was not hurt.
The DA’s Office said on January 3, 2014, Alex Rubio murdered Princess Almonidovar when he struck her car while traveling 118 mph near the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road in Bakersfield. PHOTO: Family of Princess Almonidovar
The DA’s office said following the crash, Rubio ran away from the scene by jumping over a nearby wall and hiding in a backyard. When officers found him, Rubio led officers on a foot pursuit, chasing him over three six-foot fences before he was captured.
The DA’s office said after almost four hours after the crash, Rubio’s blood alcohol level was .14%.
According to Almonidovar’s coroner’s report, the toxicology report found that she had a BAC level of a .12%
On December 15, 2015, a Kern County jury found Rubio guilty of murder in the second degree, gross vehicular manslaughter with an enhancement for fleeing the scene, driving while under the influence with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and resisting arrest.
The DA’s Office said on January 3, 2014, Alex Rubio murdered Princess Almonidovar when he struck her car while traveling 118 mph near the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road in Bakersfield. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
On February 4, 2016, a Kern County Judge sentenced Rubio to 15 years to life in state prison.
RELATED: Man sentenced to 15 years to life in deadly Bakersfield crash
On July 15, 2026, the BPH conducted Rubio’s initial parole hearing. The DA’s office said Rubio is currently 37 years old and has served about 10 years and six months in state prison.
At the parole hearing, the commissioners focused on Rubio’s insight into his crime, history of substance abuse, programming, and institutional behavior. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office asked the BPH to deny parole. The BPH found that Rubio was not suitable for parole because he continued to pose a current unreasonable risk of danger to society.
The BPH has the option of denying an inmate parole for a period of 15, 10, 7, 5 or 3 years. Rubio’s commissioners issued a five-year denial.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer commented by saying, “A five-year denial is a significant and fair given the severity of the crime and the loss of a human life. Rubio’s preventable actions had an irreversible outcome, and meaningful accountability requires significant consequences.”