Elderly man charged with murder allegedly drank vodka, mowed down teen girls on their bikes before returning to view bodies
07/20/2026 11:28 am PDT
YOLO COUNTY, Calif. (TCN) -- A 71-year-old man has been charged with murder and six other counts nearly a year after he allegedly drank vodka, got behind the wheel, and hit two teen girls with his vehicle.
David Walker allegedly drank 6 to 8 ounces of vodka and blacked out on the night of Aug. 2, 2025, KCRA reports. He then allegedly got behind the wheel of his car and fatally hit two girls on bikes, Layla Chrissa Clemons and Jaea Chatman, both 17. He then reportedly left the scene. The West Sacramento Police Department announced Walker’s arrest on Aug. 3, 2025.
During a two-week preliminary hearing in March, more details were released related to the crash, according to KXTV. Both bicycles were crushed and the girls were reportedly found on opposite sides of the road.
Walker allegedly made a U-turn, got out of his car, viewed the bodies, and spoke to witnesses before leaving the scene, according to Law & Crime.
The defense argued there was no evidence that Walker was drunk other than his own statements to the police, KRCA reports. Because he left the scene, there was no field sobriety test performed or blood alcohol test. In addition, the defense claimed Walker was experiencing mania associated with his bipolar diagnosis the night he allegedly struck and killed the girls.
On July 13, a Yolo County, California, judge decided to move forward with the charges against Walker, per KRCA.
According to the outlet, Chatman was preparing for an apprenticeship to become a house painter when she was killed. She and Clemons were very close friends who spent most of their free time together.
Chatman’s mother, Jatori Todd, said, “We couldn’t keep them away from each other. No matter how much me and Melissa (Layla’s mother) tried when we were trying to get them to focus on school and whatever the case was, her and Layla found their way to each other.”
Walker is scheduled to appear in court again on July 24, per KRCA.
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