Dallas Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Running Over and Killing Man in Oak Cliff; Evidence of Second Killing Presented at Trial
DALLAS, Texas — A 42-year-old man who intentionally drove his pickup truck onto a sidewalk and fatally struck a pedestrian in Oak Cliff has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. During his trial, prosecutors also presented evidence that he ran over and killed a second man two days later.
Juan Eduardo Sandoval-Martinez, 42, was found guilty of murder on October 8, 2026, in a Dallas County courtroom. Judge Audra Riley handed down the 50-year sentence after Sandoval-Martinez waived his right to a jury trial.
The conviction stems from the January 18, 2023, killing of Juan Manuel Cardona, 36, near Interstate 35 in North Oak Cliff.
Surveillance Video Shows Pickup Accelerating Toward Victim
According to an arrest affidavit, Cardona was standing on a sidewalk near the intersection of 300 S. Marsalis Ave. and the southbound Interstate 35 service road when Sandoval-Martinez struck him with a black 2012 GMC 1500 pickup truck.
Surveillance footage from a nearby Valero gas station showed Sandoval-Martinez getting out of his truck, entering the store and returning to his vehicle.
The video then captured him leaving the gas station and entering the southbound service road.
According to investigators, Sandoval-Martinez sharply turned his steering wheel to the left, directed the truck toward the raised sidewalk and accelerated toward Cardona.
The truck struck and killed Cardona.
Sandoval-Martinez drove away along South Marsalis Avenue without stopping to help the victim. The affidavit states that he also ran a red light while fleeing the area.
Prosecutors Present Evidence of Second Fatal Attack Two Days Later
During the murder trial, prosecutors introduced evidence involving a second fatal incident on January 20, 2023, just two days after Cardona's death.
In that incident, Sandoval-Martinez drove over Otis Charles Buford, 54, a pedestrian cyclist originally from Texarkana.
Prosecutors presented the second incident as evidence of a similar method of attack, with Sandoval-Martinez using a vehicle to strike the victim.
In both incidents, Sandoval-Martinez left without stopping to render aid.
During his testimony, Sandoval-Martinez told the court he had been using drugs and did not remember either incident.
Evidence involving his body tattoos and other identifying markings was also used during the trial.
Third Incident Involved Woman Attacked With Baseball Bat
Sandoval-Martinez was also linked to a third violent incident on January 22, 2023, two days after Buford's death.
In that incident, Sandoval-Martinez struck a woman with a baseball bat while robbing her.
Later that month, Duncanville police officers arrested Sandoval-Martinez on three warrants involving aggravated robbery, accident involving death and murder.
He remained in custody at the Dallas County Jail after his arrest because he was unable to post a combined $1.8 million bond.
Judge Sentences Sandoval-Martinez to 50 Years
Sandoval-Martinez waived his right to a jury trial, allowing Judge Audra Riley to determine the verdict.
On October 8, 2026, Riley found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to 50 years in prison.
Court records indicate that Sandoval-Martinez received 1,356 days of jail credit and that the sentence will run concurrently with a prior sentence.
The Dallas Police Department investigated the case.
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office prosecution team included Hallie Warnock, lead prosecutor; Erik Lisowski, second-chair prosecutor; and Abby Cruz, district attorney investigator.
