Porterville man guilty in deadly DUI crash

Porterville resident Salvador Leon, 38, was found guilty on Tuesday of killing a Camarillo man and a baby last year as he drove drunk the wrong way on Highway 99.

After two hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Leon of two counts of second degree murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury to the surviving victim. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11 in the Visalia Courthouse, where is expected to receive a sentence of more 30 years to life in state prison.

On Feb. 2 2009, Leon left a bar in the Earlimart area and entered the highway headed northbound in the southbound lanes.

He drove more than five miles with a blood alcohol level of .25 — three times more than the legal limit. Numerous drivers attempted to stop Leon by flashing their lights at his car and honking their horns.

Near Avenue 56, while travelling about 50 mph, he collided head-on with a family driving in a Ford Escape. The crash seriously injured a 22-year-old woman, and killed her 23-year-old husband and seven month old baby boy.

Leon had four prior DUI convictions from San Diego County prior to the fatal incident.

The trial began on Jan. 4.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.