The driver of a BMW that struck and killed 39-year-old Michael Alexander Diaz in 2022 has been arrested and charged for the tragic Father’s Day crash.
Marian Louise Barrios, 45, was booked into the Fresno County Jail on Aug. 4, more than four years after the fatal crash at the intersection of Floral Avenue and Henderson Road near Caruthers in southwest Fresno County.
Diaz’s sister Sarah Ochoa was relieved to hear the driver was arrested. “This is about accountability,” she said. “She left him out in the middle of nowhere; my baby brother was left out in a field on his own. She didn’t call 911. She didn’t help him.“
Ochoa said her brother got up early that Father’s Day to ride his motorcycle to Fresno Memorial Gardens, where their late father is buried.
The California Highway Patrol said Barrios was driving her BMW east on Floral when they say she ran stop sign, striking Diaz, who was heading north on Henderson.
Diaz was about 15 minutes away from visiting his late father’s grave site.
Known as Mickey to his friends, Diaz left behind six children, who are being cared for by his mother, Rosa Diaz, and Ochoa.
Diaz was working at the T-Mobile call center in Kingsburg while going to trade school.
“He was feeling really positive about himself and his life,” Ochoa said.
Why did it take four years to make an arrest?
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Michael Alexander Diaz and family. From left to right, Rosa Diaz, Julissa, Elvia (on shoulders), Sariah, Armani, Adrian and Jayden. Special to the Bee
Taylor Long, public information officer for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, said Friday that the office did not receive the case for review from the CHP until about seven weeks ago, on June 15.
“We initiated charges to be filed on June 16, 2026, and submitted our case to the court and simultaneously sent a filing packet to CHP,” she said.
CHP officials could not be reached for comment.
Barrios is charged with one felony count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or permanent serious injury.
She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Aug. 6. Her next court appearance will be Sept. 4 for a pre-preliminary hearing.
If convicted, she faces a maximum of four years in prison.
This story was originally published August 7, 2026 at 5:06 PM.
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A Valley native, Robert has worked at The Fresno Bee since 1994, covering various topics including education, business, courts and agriculture.