Josue had 0.24 blood alcohol level, drunk from Modelo beer with his daughter in car, he killed a old man during crash
Josue Murcia-Mata, 19, killed David Smith, 62, during a drunk driving crash in Charlotte, NC. On August 8, 2025 Josue pled guilty to the crimes. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram.
David Smith and Josue Murcia Mata
The wreck was on October 27, 2024 on Remington St. Josue was driving a vehicle drunk with his 2-year-old daughter in the car, Josue had been drinking Modelo Beer. Josue crashed into 2 vehicles and then fled the scene.
David was driving one of the victim vehicles and a female was driving the 2nd victim vehicle. Both victims were seriously injured.
Officers and EMS arrived on scene. The victims were taken to trauma center hospitals. Officers followed a fluid trail at the scene to a house nearby.
Blood was at the house along with new vehicle damage. Josue was located outside the home. Josue had slurred speech, red glossy eyes, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.
Josue admitted he was driving the wrecked vehicle with his 2-year old daughter in his lap. When he wrecked he took the girl to her mother at the residence.
The 2-year old girl was not injured. Josue claimed to have consumed Modelo Beer. He performed poorly on field sobriety testing and was arrested for DWI, driving after consuming less than 21, felony hit/run causing serious injury, and child abuse.
Josue blew a 0.24 blood alcohol content via a breathalyzer. Days after the crash on November 2, 2024 David died at the hospital from injuries suffered during the crash. Josue was then charged with felony death by motor vehicle also.
In August 2025 Josue pled guilty to felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle, and misdemeanor child abuse. He was sentenced to 51-74 months in prison; that sentence was suspended pending the defendant’s successful completion of 36 months of supervised probation.
As conditions of the probation, Josue must serve a split sentence of 12 months in jail and must not drive a motor vehicle.
