Suspect in Fresno County crash that killed couple appears in court

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — A Madera County man is facing charges in downtown Fresno court after officials said he struck and killed a married couple while allegedly driving while drunk.

The victims’ children offer forgiveness, even though the driver had been under the influence of alcohol for a long time.

Murder charges have been filed against 54-year-old David Alvarado.

Alvarado has six previous DUIs on his record dating back to 1997.

RELATED: Children of couple killed in crash find forgiveness for suspected drunk driver

The California Highway Patrol says he was driving under the influence again Saturday evening when his pickup truck struck a Nissan and a Camaro at a stoplight at Highway 41 and Manning Avenue.

The accident that evening killed 65-year-old Mary Hardin.

Her husband, 69-year-old Paul Hardin, was hospitalized in critical condition.

Four of the Hardins’ 10 children say they had to make the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support on Monday.