A Fresno man has been sentenced for impaired driving that led to a fatal crash at a Fresno taco truck in 2021.

Rolando Enrique Alvarenga-Aguilar, 48, was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for murder, driving under the influence (DUI) causing injury, and hit and run.

On Oct. 9, 2021, Alvarenga-Aguilar was driving in his van in a gas station parking lot at the intersection of Maple and Belmont avenues, where the Tacos El Bello food truck was parked.

 

While approaching the food truck in his van, Alvarenga-Aguilar accelerated his vehicle, striking 60-year old Sabas Ruiz-Galavez  and pinning him in between the food truck and his van, according to a new release from the Fresno County District Attorney’s office.

Alvarenga-Aguilar also injured another individual seated at the table.

He then ran away, leaving the victims and fleeing to a nearby neighborhood where he was later found by officers of the Fresno Police Department.

Alvarenga-Aguilar, had a blood alcohol concentration of .20%, two-and-a-half times over the legal limit for operating a vehicle.

Ruiz-Galavez died from his injuries in the hospital on Oct. 18, 2021.

Alvarenga-Aguilar had a long criminal history that included convictions for theft, domestic violence, and two prior convictions for driving under the influence — both in 2018 and 2019.

He was on probation for the 2019 DUI conviction when the fatal crash occurred.

Alvarenga-Aguilar’s sentence was handed down by Judge Geoffrey D. Wilson of the Fresno County Superior Court after he pleaded no contest to the charges on May 14.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Steven Ueltzen and with assistance from Senior District Attorney Investigator Ronnie Sims.

The prosecution was a part of the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program.