Man sentenced to probation, rehab in 2021 DUI fatality

Defendant spent 406 days in jail before plea deal for crash that killed former KTVU news director Fred Zehnder

OAKLAND >> A Hayward man has been sentenced to three years probation and an alcohol rehabilitation program — on top of 406 days he's already served in jail — for the 2021 DUI crash that killed former KTVU news director Fred Zehnder.

Michael Williams, 33, pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter last October. He was released from jail pending sentencing, which was finalized last month, court records show.

Zehnder, 87, was struck by Williams' truck at about 10 p.m. on June 27, 2021, while crossing the street on the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue in Alameda. After hitting Zehnder, Williams pulled over and dialed 911, police said at the time. He later admitted to drinking four beers and four shots of whiskey at a bar that night, according to court records.

Williams' lawyer, Colin Cooper, said his client completed the rehabilitation program and has been sober for months. He described Williams as a veteran who served in Afghanistan and added he felt “just terrible” about the crash.

“He's a heartfelt, contrite, really decent human being who will forever feel awful about what he did,” Cooper said.

Williams initially posted bail after his arrest on manslaughter and drunk driving charges, but was arrested and booked without bail after missing a court appearance in 2022, records show. He was released last year after qualifying for the rehabilitation program.

Williams was technically given 812 days credit for time served in jail; the 406 days he actually spent in Santa Rita Jail were doubled for good behavior, per state law. He was also required to submit to regular drug and alcohol testing, court records show.

Zehnder worked at KTVU for 21 years until his retirement in 1999. During his run at the Oaklandbased station, Channel 2 was honored with numerous journalism awards and “The Ten O'Clock News” became the top-rated newscast in the Bay Area market, easily outpacing its rivals. After leaving KTVU, Zehnder stayed attached to local journalism as the founder of the San Leandro Times and owner of the Castro Valley Forum.