May 14th, 2022 By DJ Becker/The Madera News
Madera Acres A 21-year-old Madera man with two prior arrests for DUI was charged with murder, felony hit and run, and a third DUI Saturday night after he slammed into the back of a GMC work truck at high speed on Avenue 17 near Melba Drive, killing his passenger according to the California High Patrol.
Jose Adolfo Ortez-Berdejo was reportedly driving westbound on Avenue 17 at about 10 pm when he failed to see the truck pull out in front of him and struck the back of it, demolishing the Hyundai he was driving. Ortez-Berdejo then fled the scene of the crash on foot according to witnesses. Officers found him hiding in a nearby field before taking him into custody.
His passenger, 22-year-old Jose Daniel Garcia of Madera was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt according to officers.
Ortez-Berdejo is being held on a $1 million bond and was also charged with driving without a valid driver’s license.
The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries. The accident remains under investigation.
