$5 million bail for alleged DUI driver in double-fatal Oxnard crash

A 29-year-old Santa Paula man will face trial on two counts of second-degree murder in connection with a violent, multi-vehicle crash in Oxnard last month that killed two drivers and injured three other people, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced.

David Mora was held to answer on all charges following a preliminary hearing in Ventura County Superior Court, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said, according to the Vida Newspaper. He remains in custody with bail set at $5 million and is scheduled to be arraigned on October 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

The charges stem from a crash on Friday, September 25, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m. — the start of the evening commute — that ultimately involved eight vehicles and closed down one of Oxnard's busiest corridors.

What Happened at Victoria and Doris

According to prosecutors, Mora was driving northbound on Victoria Avenue under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly ran a red light at the Doris Avenue intersection at approximately 110 mph — roughly double the posted speed limit. His vehicle struck two other vehicles, killing both drivers.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office identified the victims as Tranquilino Carbrizal Ortiz and Jose Luis Martinez Perez. Three additional people were injured in the chain-reaction collision, which involved eight vehicles in total.

The charges against Mora include two counts of second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving with a.08% or higher blood alcohol content causing injury. He also faces several special allegations, including causing bodily injury or death to more than one victim, great bodily injury in the commission of a felony, and a prior drunk driving conviction.

Deputy District Attorney Erin Weilbacher, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney's Office DUI Unit, is prosecuting the case.

Why Second-Degree Murder Charges in a DUI Case

For Oxnard residents unfamiliar with how DUI fatalities are prosecuted in California, the decision to charge second-degree murder — rather than the more common gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated — is significant. Under California law, prosecutors can pursue murder charges in impaired-driving deaths when they can show the driver acted with implied malice: a conscious disregard for human life.

A documented prior DUI conviction, such as the one alleged in this case, often plays a central role in establishing that standard, because drivers convicted of DUI in California are typically warned — in writing — that driving impaired can kill, and that doing so again could result in murder charges.

The special allegations filed in this case — multiple victims, great bodily injury, and the alleged prior — carry potential sentence enhancements if Mora is convicted. A second-degree murder conviction in California carries 15 years to life per count.

The case also highlights the role of the DA's dedicated DUI Unit, which handles impaired-driving prosecutions countywide. Ventura County has historically taken an aggressive posture on DUI fatalities, and murder charges in such cases have become an increasingly common charging decision when priors or extreme conduct are present.

A Familiar Corridor for Oxnard Drivers

Victoria Avenue is one of Oxnard's main north-south arterials, carrying commuter traffic between downtown Oxnard, the Rose Park and Five Points areas, and connections toward Ventura and the auto mall corridor. The Doris Avenue intersection sits in a heavily traveled stretch lined with residences, schools, and shopping centers.

A vehicle traveling 110 mph through that intersection — at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday — would cover more than 160 feet per second, leaving other drivers with virtually no time to react even to a green light. That the collision ultimately involved eight vehicles underscores, according to prosecutors' account, the amount of kinetic energy released when the crash occurred.

Residents along the corridor have long raised concerns about speeding on Victoria Avenue, and collisions at its intersections are a recurring item in Oxnard traffic discussions. Whether this case prompts renewed city attention to traffic calming or enforcement on the corridor remains to be seen; the Oxnard Police Department regularly conducts DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols funded through state Office of Traffic Safety grants.

What Comes Next

Mora's arraignment on the information is scheduled for October 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. After a defendant is held to answer at a preliminary hearing, the arraignment on the information formally begins the trial-court phase of the case; a trial date would be set in the weeks that follow.

Mora remains in custody on $5 million bail. Under California's cash bail system, he would need to post that amount or a bond secured against it to be released pending trial — a figure that reflects, in part, the severity of the charges and the special allegations he faces.

For the families of Tranquilino Carbrizal Ortiz and Jose Luis Martinez Perez, the court process is just beginning. The three people injured in the crash, whose identities have not been publicly released, may also factor into the proceedings as the case moves forward.

805.life will continue to follow this case as it moves through Ventura County Superior Court.

Sources: [Vida Newspaper](https://vidanewspaper.com/2026/10/22/5-million-bail-for-alleged-dui-driver/); Ventura County District Attorney's Office.