Fresno Police: Detective arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, texting while driving
A Fresno Police detective has been arrested after allegedly striking and killing a man with his vehicle, which police say may have been the result of distracted driving.
On the night of September 5, 2020, officers responded to a fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision at Fresno and E Street, which they soon discovered involved one of their own — Detective Benito Soto.
The victim, 51-year-old Jose Pulido, had reportedly been unlawfully crossing the intersection when Soto, driving westbound on Fresno Street and proceeding through a green light, struck Pulido with his vehicle. Police say Soto may have been speeding and, upon review of his cellphone, also may have been texting at the time of the collision.
Pulido was pronounced dead of his injuries at an area hospital.
On December 30, following an extensive investigation, Detective Soto was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving at a speed unsafe for conditions, failure to yield to a pedestrian, and texting while driving.
