Former school principal charged with murder after drunk driving accident that killed two people in December 2023

REEDLEY, Calif. (FOX26) — The Tulare County District Attorney announced Wednesday that murder charges have been filed against Blake Benham, 43, of Dinuba, on suspicion of killing a mother and her daughter while driving while under the influence in December 2023.

The Tulare County District Attorney announced that on December 3, 2023, a collision occurred at the intersection of Street 56 and Avenue 530 south of Reedley that left two people dead and several others injured.

The prosecutor states that Benham is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of negligent homicide while intoxicated, two counts of drunken driving causing personal injury with a blood alcohol level of over 0.15 percent, and aggravated assault on two other victims, as well as injury to multiple victims.

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Benham was arrested without incident by the California Highway Patrol.

An indictment is expected in August 2024.

If convicted, Benham faces a life sentence in prison.