Fresno County, CA — The victim of a fatal pedestrian hit-and-run in which DUI is suspected in the early hours of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, has been identified as 26-year-old Delia Valladares, according to ABC30.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the investigation began around 4:00 AM with officers responding to a home in Easton belonging to a man identified as Sunil Sunil after reports of a crash nearby.
Upon questioning, Sunil reportedly stated that the impact damage to his vehicle, a Hyundai, was sustained after colliding with a parked vehicle some number of hours before. Investigators determined, however, that the damage to the Hyundai was not consistent with Sunil’s account.
Authorities state that Sunil then admitted to having struck a pedestrian. He was then arrested under suspicion of having driven under the influence.
No reports of injured pedestrians had been received by CHP at that time. So, a search was initiated, which led to investigators discovering the body of Valladares, deceased, on the west dirt shoulder of Elm Avenue near American Avenue. Physical evidence found at the scene appeared to be debris from the Hyundai found at Sunil’s residence.
Sunil was transported to Community Regional Medical Center for medical clearance and then booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, fleeing the scene of a crime, and other felony offences in regard to the fatal accident. These are the first DUI-related convictions for Sunil, according to court records.
California DUI Law
Section 23153(a) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that it is illegal for any driver to “Operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, as a result, cause bodily injury to someone else.”
Fresno County DUI Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crashes and Wrongful Death Claims
When the negligent actions of a driver result in the death of a pedestrian like Delia Valladares, her surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can return a loved one who loses their life, the costs of that loss should fall on those responsible, not the victim’s family. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for such damages as funeral costs and the loss of financial and emotional support the deceased may have provided.
This civil suit operates independently of any criminal proceedings and would not require Sunil Sunil to be convicted of any of the crimes with which he has been charged. If he is convicted, however, he may be considered to have committed “negligence per se,” which means that, by having violated traffic safety laws, his actions while driving would automatically meet the legal definition of negligence, increasing his share of liability in the accident which led to the death of Valladares.
Fresno County Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been harmed in an accident like the one described here, on Elm Avenue near American Avenue, consider reaching out to a California wrongful death lawyer with any questions and to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.
