San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that her office secured the conviction of Sandra Alvarado-Puentes (32) after a trial by jury for driving under the influence (PC 23152(a)) and driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher (PC 23152(b)).

“I want to thank the jury for their thoughtful deliberation in bringing this verdict,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “Driving under the influence puts everyone on the road at risk, and we will not tolerate it in San Francisco.”

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on December 12, 2025, at approximately 8:30 PM, a California Highway Patrol Officer responded to a report of a collision on US 101 northbound just north of 17th street. Once getting to the scene, he saw Ms. Alvarado-Puentes’ disabled vehicle in the far-left lane. Upon moving Ms. Alvarado-Puentes to a safe location off the highway, the officer conducted a DUI investigation in which Ms. Alvarado-Puentes performed poorly and refused a breath test. Blood tests established that at the time of driving she had a blood alcohol content over 0.08.

The case against Ms. Alvarado-Puentes was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Makena Kershaw with assistance from paralegals Nohemi Torres and Raquel Paz. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Ms. Alvarado-Puentes based on the California Highway Patrol’s thorough investigation and assistance.

“I’m grateful to the jury for their careful attention throughout this trial and their service to the people of San Francisco,” said Assistant District Attorney Makena Kershaw. “This verdict serves as an important reminder that driving under the influence is a choice, and it’s one that puts everyone on our roads at risk.”

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office takes all driving under the influence cases seriously and seeks to hold offenders accountable in all cases. For the most serious DUI felony cases, the office established a Felony DUI Vertical Prosecution Unit with a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Court Number: 25027248

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