Timothy Seth Chavez arrested following fatal hit-and-run of mother and son

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a devastating hit-and-run that claimed the lives of a 41-year-old woman and her nine-year-old son.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by local outlets on Friday, Timothy Seth Chavez faces two counts of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of leaving the scene of a crash.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, as Martha Hernandez and her son, Adrian, were returning home from an Easter celebration.

Police allege that Chavez ran a red light at approximately 2:00 a.m., ramming into the victims' vehicle and sending it into a nearby canal.

While authorities were able to retrieve Martha from the water, she later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital. Adrian, an elementary school student, also perished in the crash.

Between late Monday and Tuesday morning, Chavez reportedly turned himself in to authorities at the Fresno County Jail.

The local community has since held vigils for Martha, a popular nail technician known for her supportive nature, and her son, whose teacher described him as a devoted child whose "dream was to always be with his mom."

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Martha’s eldest son, a high school senior now tasked with making funeral arrangements and repatriating his mother and brother to their native Mexico.

The Fresno Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision, and it remains unclear if Chavez has retained legal counsel or entered a formal plea.

This tragedy has sparked renewed discussions regarding road safety and the increasing frequency of hit-and-run incidents within the Central Valley.