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\u2019s Day crash.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Diaz\u2019s sister Sarah Ochoa was relieved to hear the driver was arrested. \u201cThis is about accountability,\u201d she said. \u201cShe left him out in the middle of nowhere; my baby brother was left out in a field on his own. She didn\u2019t call 911. She didn\u2019t help him.\u201c<\/p>\n
Ochoa said her brother got up early that Father\u2019s Day to ride his motorcycle to Fresno Memorial Gardens, where their late father is buried.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Diaz was about 15 minutes away from visiting his late father\u2019s grave site.<\/p>\n
Known as Mickey to his friends, Diaz left behind six children, who are being cared for by his mother, Rosa Diaz, and Ochoa.<\/p>\n
Diaz was working at the T-Mobile call center in Kingsburg while going to trade school.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was feeling really positive about himself and his life,\u201d Ochoa said.<\/p>\n
Why did it take four years to make an arrest?<\/p>\n
Michael Alexander Diaz and family. From left to right, Rosa Diaz, Julissa, Elvia (on shoulders), Sariah, Armani, Adrian and Jayden. Special to the Bee <\/p>\n
Taylor Long, public information officer for the Fresno County District Attorney\u2019s Office, said Friday that the office did not receive the case for review from the CHP until about seven weeks ago, on June 15.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe initiated charges to be filed on June 16, 2026, and submitted our case to the court and simultaneously sent a filing packet to CHP,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
CHP officials could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Barrios is charged with one felony count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or permanent serious injury.<\/p>\n
She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Aug. 6. Her next court appearance will be Sept. 4 for a pre-preliminary hearing.<\/p>\n
If convicted, she faces a maximum of four years in prison.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published August 7, 2026 at 5:06 PM.<\/p>\n
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