Martha Hernandez and Adrian Hernandez die in fatal Fresno hit-and-run crash
Fatal Fresno hit-and-run crash death of Martha Hernandez and Adrian Hernandez – Obituary
A tragic incident struck a Fresno family early on April 7, 2026, when a hit-and-run collision claimed the lives of 41-year-old Martha Hernandez and her 9-year-old son, Adrian. The pair had just returned from an Easter church service when a vehicle, believed to be driven by an intoxicated 22-year-old, ran a red light and struck their SUV, propelling it into a nearby canal.
Responders found Martha in the submerged vehicle and performed life-saving measures before transporting her to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Adrian’s absence was initially unnoticed, and rescue crews spent hours searching the canal system before recovering his body about two miles downstream.
The driver, Timothy Seth Chavez, turned himself in nearly 24 hours later. Investigators determined that Chavez’s actions caused the deaths of both victims. He has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run, driving without insurance, and driving on a suspended license. Witnesses indicated that Chavez had been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Family members mourn the devastating loss. Hernandez’s niece established a GoFundMe to assist the surviving family with funeral expenses and other costs, describing Martha as a devoted mother and churchgoer, and Adrian as a bright, innocent child whose life was tragically cut short.