Man charged with DUI, manslaughter for running over woman in SF intersection

(KRON) — A 28-year-old man was formally charged with felony vehicular manslaughter and DUI charges Thursday after he struck and killed a woman who was in the middle of a San Francisco intersection shortly after 5 a.m. on May 27, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said.

Manuel Diaz-Chi, 28, was allegedly driving with a blood-alcohol level of .15% or higher when he hit the victim at the intersection of 10th Street and Folsom streets, causing great bodily injury, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

Diaz-Chi was arraigned on May 29 for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied all allegations.

“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,” the DA’s office said. “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 city block until Diaz-Chi pulled over on the 400 block of 10th Street, the DA’s office said. San Francisco Police Department officers arrived at the scene and found the victim underneath the man’s car.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Diaz-Chi remained on scene and showed signs of intoxication, the DA’s office said. Officers also allegedly found bottles of beer inside the car.

“Mr. Diaz-Chi declined to perform field sobriety tests but consented to a breath test,” the DA’s office said. “The results of the chemical breath test showed his [blood-alcohol level] at 8 a.m. was .16%.”

KRON4 reached out to the DA’s office for more information regarding the circumstances of the crash but did not receive a response.