Single MVA Roll Over Canutillo (Delayed Posting)
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
News Release
800 E. Overland, 3rd floor, El Paso, Texas 79901
Sunday, September 23, 2007 12:43 a.m.
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar ,Public Affairs Section (915) 546-2280, Pager (915) 533-0733 (# 5370) Or
EMAIL: jtovar@epcounty.com
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office- (Patrol / Special Traffic Investigators- STI’s)
WHAT: Motor Vehicle Accident roll-over
WHERE: 6700 block of Doniphan Canutillo, TX
WHEN: Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 p.m.
WHY: Update - Under Investigation
Information:
On 09-22-07 at about 8:35 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to the 6700 block of Doniphan in Canutillo, TX in reference to a motor vehicle accident roll-over with a toddler occupant.
Deputies arrived moments later and discovered a 1995 Nissan Maxima on its roof at the intersection of Doniphan & G. Moreno. Apparently the vehicle had struck a utility pole & a gas meter which caused heavy damage to the vehicle. Special Traffic Investigators were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, Deputies discovered power lines dangling on top of the vehicle & a heavily damaged gas meter that was releasing high pressure gas into the air. Sheriff Deputies with the assistance of the Anthony Police Department had to evacuate several residences in the immediate area.
Early reports indicate a Maroon Nissan Maxima driven by a 18 year-old female was traveling north on Doniphan at a high rate of speed. The female lost control of her vehicle and somehow rolled the vehicle into a dirt lot at the intersection of Doniphan & G. Moreno. The vehicle came to a stop after striking both the utility pole & gas meter. A 20 month female passenger was traveling in the backseat of the vehicle.
Upon arrival to the scene, a large crowd had gathered around the accident site & there was heavy traffic in the area. Deputies could not locate either the driver or the 20 month female passenger. After a brief investigation, Deputies located the female driver & toddler at a nearby mobile home park where she carried the young toddler to seek help. Both driver & passenger were treated at the scene and did not suffer life threatening injuries.
El Paso Electric Company & El Paso Gas Service were called to the scene due to the severity of the downed power lines & the damaged gas meter. Doniphan was closed from Borderland to Talbot for several hours.
It appears that speed and alcohol were factor in the accident.
The female driver was arrested & booked for Driving While Intoxicated w/ Child Passenger under 15 which is state jail felony. She was identified as 18 year-old Brittnie Rae Villanueva of El Paso County, Texas.
This case remains under investigation. No other information is being released at this time.