VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — A Ventura County man has been charged with two counts of murder in connection with a crash on State Route 1 earlier this month that killed two bicyclists, prosecutors announced.
Gabriel Esquivel, whose age was not immediately available, is accused of driving under the influence and causing the deaths of Kellie Standish and William Colby Tucker on June 11, 2026.
According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, California Highway Patrol officers responded to a collision on State Route 1, north of Solimar Beach Drive, around 7:07 p.m. Investigators determined that Esquivel was driving a Nissan Frontier northbound when he allegedly struck three bicyclists riding along the right side of the roadway.
The impact caused fatal injuries to Standish, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Tucker was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Authorities reported that officers observed signs of alcohol impairment at the scene. Esquivel was given a DUI field test and subsequently arrested.
The case has drawn attention because of Esquivel's prior DUI arrest in Oxnard on December 19, 2025. During that incident, he received multiple Watson advisements—warnings that inform drivers that if they continue to drive under the influence and their actions result in a death, they can be charged with murder.
The current murder charges reflect that warning.
Esquivel remains in custody without bail. He is next scheduled to appear in court for a continuation of his arraignment on June 22, 2026.
The case underscores the serious consequences of impaired driving, particularly when prior warnings have been issued.