FRESNO -  Joey Barron (31) of Fresno, has been charged in a felony complaint with crimes including murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while impaired, driving under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug causing great bodily injury, driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury, and driving on a suspended license. The charges are related to a vehicle collision which occurred on Highway 168 near the Shields offramp in the early morning hours of January 2, 2021.

It is alleged that during that collision, the defendant lost control of his vehicle and veered onto the shoulder of the highway, causing his vehicle to roll. The 30-year-old male passenger was injured during the collision and pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics. Following an investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Officers concluded that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The complaint alleges that the defendant committed the crimes of:

1. Murder [PC 187(a)];
2. Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated [PC 191.5(a)];
3. Driving under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol causing great bodily injury [VC 23153(g)/PC 12022.7(a)];
4. Driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury [VC 23153(a)/PC 12022.7(a)];
5. Driving with a suspended license [VC 14601.5]

It is further alleged that the defendant has suffered a prior conviction for an alcohol-related driving offense. If convicted of the charges and allegations, the defendant faces a sentence of up to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant was arrested on the morning of January 2, 2021 by officers of the California Highway Patrol. He remains in custody and his arraignment is scheduled for January 6, 2021.

The case is currently being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.