Man Charged With Murder In Alleged DUI Racing Crash

FREMONT, CA — A Fremont man with three prior DUI convictions has been charged with murder for the death of a friend in an alleged solo-vehicle drunk driving crash during an apparent freeway race last month, prosecutors said.

Tyler Underwood, 31, was charged and arraigned on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in a crash on Interstate Highway 680 in Fremont at about 11:15 p.m. on Oct. 9 that claimed the life of 32-year-old Darren James Walker of Fremont.

The California Highway Patrol said in a report that it initially arrested Daniel Cameron, 24, a passenger in Underwood's BMW, for the crash because he told officers that he had been driving the car.

The CHP also said it didn't find Walker's body on the night of the crash but found it the next day after his mother called the agency and said she was looking for him and he had been a passenger in the BMW.

In another twist in the case, Walker himself was charged with vehicular manslaughter for a crash in Fremont on May 7, 2004, that killed his passenger, 16-year-old Cody Leo.

However, court records indicate that the vehicular manslaughter charge against Walker was dismissed in 2006 and he was convicted of a lesser charge and placed on five years' probation.

CHP Officer Eric Gatty wrote in a report that investigators ultimately determined that Underwood was driving his BMW at a high rate of speed while jockeying with a friend driving another car on Highway 680 when he lost control of the BMW and went off the highway and crashed into a grassy embankment.

Walker, who was sitting in the left rear seat, Underwood's 4-year-old daughter and a woman were passengers in the BMW, according to Gatty.

Cameron was a passenger in an Audi driven by Blake Bevins that was racing with the BMW, Gatty wrote.

Cameron told the CHP that he told responding officers that he had been driving the BMW because he "felt bad" for Underwood since Underwood had told him that he had just gotten custody of his daughter and couldn't afford to get another DUI conviction, according to Gatty.

When officers later told Cameron that Walker had died he "immediately broke down and became angry with Underwood," Gatty wrote.

Investigators ultimately developed information that Underwood had been driving the BMW at the time of the crash and he was arrested in Newark last Friday.

When Underwood was interviewed he told investigators that he thought Walker had walked away from the crash, Gatty said.

Underwood is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, child abuse, for allegedly injuring his daughter, and several drunk driving and speeding counts, including an allegation that he was driving at more than 100 mph.

Underwood was charged with misdemeanor drunk driving earlier this year for a March 11 incident and on Aug. 27 he pleaded no contest and was placed on three years' probation. His probation was revoked when he was arraigned on Tuesday.

Walker's family said in an online obituary that he was "a true protector of animals and children, would always take anyone under his wing, stand up for them and protect them fiercely."

Walker's family said, "He would not hesitate to help a person or animal in need" and was "a big teddy bear with a big heart" as well as "a true and loyal friend to anyone that crossed his path."

His family said Walker loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, boating, swimming, fishing and riding his dirt bike with family and friends.

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— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock