San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that Manuel Diaz-Chi (28), was charged in connection to a fatal traffic collision in SOMA. He was arraigned on May 29, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all allegations.

Mr. Diaz-Chi is charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated (PC 191.5(b)), driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury (VC 23153(a)) with an allegation and driving under the influence of alcohol with a .08% BAC causing injury. The criminal complaint also alleges that Mr. Diaz-Chi’s blood alcohol concentration was .15% or higher (VC 23578) and that he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim (PC 12022.7(b)).

According to court documents, on May 27, 2025, at 5:06 AM, Mr. Diaz-Chi was driving a Mazda van on 10th Street towards Folsom St. Allegedly, he had been drinking alcohol all night on May 26, 2025, and in the early morning hours of May 27, 2025. Allegedly, Mr. Diaz-Chi was intoxicated and following the other vehicles too closely as he drove through the intersection of 10th Street and Folsom Street. Allegedly, he was unable to slow down as he accelerated around other vehicles and ran the victim over who was in the middle of the intersection. The victim was dragged for a block until Mr. Diaz-Chi pulled over on the four hundred block of 10th Street. SFPD Officers arrived on scene and found the victim underneath the defendant’s car. Medics transported the victim to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. When officers contacted Mr. Diaz-Chi, he displayed objective symptoms of intoxication. Officers also saw bottles of beer inside his car. Mr. Diaz-Chi declined to perform field sobriety tests but consented to a breath test. The results of the chemical breath test showed his BAC at 8 AM was .16%.

The District Attorney’s Office moved to have Mr. Diaz-Chi detained pending trial due to the public safety risk he poses. The court set bail without prejudice in the amount of $80,000. He is currently in custody. Mr. Diaz-Chi’s next court date is June 3, 2025, for a bail review hearing.

Although charges have been filed, this remains an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.

Court Number: 25011305

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