Suspect in Fresno County crash that killed couple pleads not guilty

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) – A Madera County man accused of beating and killing a married couple has pleaded not guilty.

David Alvarado, 54, was arraigned Thursday in a downtown Fresno court.

According to the California Highway Patrol, he was driving drunk in May when his pickup truck collided with two other cars at a traffic light at the intersection of Highway 41 and Manning Avenue.

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65-year-old Mary Hardin was killed in the accident that evening.

Her husband, 69-year-old Paul Hardin, was hospitalized in critical condition and taken off life support a few days later.

Alvarado is charged with murder for the accident.

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He also has six previous convictions for drunk driving since 1997.

He is due to appear in court again on August 8.