Bartender charged with murder in Santa Maria DUI crash
September 28, 2024
By KAREN VELIE
Prosecutors recently charged a bartender who caused a fatal crash on Highway 101 in Santa Maria earlier this month with murder.
After initially filing charges of manslaughter and DUI, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office added the murder charge after discovering 34-year-old Kendra Cordova worked as a bartender and had completed classes on the dangers of drinking and driving. Cordova worked as a bartender for a wedding reception that started on the evening of Sept. 7 and ended on the morning of Sept. 8.
Cordova drank heavily during and after the event.
Shortly before 5 a.m., Cordova headed northbound in a southbound lane on Highway 101. She then crashed head-on into a truck driven by Cecilio L. Camacho, 63, who suffered critical injuries.
Camacho’s wife Alma Teresa Alcorta Del Lazaro, 53, died at the scene.
At 0.26, Cordova’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.
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