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El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
(915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Friday, May 2, 2008 9:30 am
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Upper Valley Patrol / Special Traffic Investigators.
WHAT: Motor Vehicle Accident- Fatality
WHERE: I-10 East Mile Marker 1 - Anthony, Texas.
WHEN: Thursday, May 1, 2008 at approximately 11:11 PM.
WHY: Under investigation.
Preliminary investigation:
Late Thursday night, 05-01-08 11:11 PM, Sheriff Deputies along with the Anthony Police Department were dispatched to Interstate 10 east at mile marker number one in reference to a motor vehicle accident roll-over with serious injuries. Special Traffic Investigator were summoned to the scene.
Upon arrival, Officials found the vehicle on its side in the median facing westbound. Deputies met with a female who was standing outside of the car. It was determined later she was the back seat passenger of the vehicle. Deputies also discovered a 29 year-old female front passenger inside the 1999 Saturn SC 2 which was on its side.
As a result of her injuries, the 29 year-old female front passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as Victoria Venturo of Las Cruces, NM.
Deputies discovered that there was a 3rd occupant in the vehicle (male driver). The male subject said to be the driver of the vehicle fled the scene of the accident prior to the arrival of Sheriff Deputies & APD Officers. Officials quickly shut down I-10 east from the county line (mile post 0) to mile post 2 in an effort to search the area for the third suspect / driver.
Officials searched the darkness of the immediate desert area, truck stops & convenience stores . After an extensive search, Officials could not locate the male suspect /driver.
After a brief investigation, STI's determined the driver of the Saturn lost control of the vehicle traveling eastbound on I-10 at Mile post 1. It was determined that the vehicle then veered from the inside lane of I-10 east to the center median. As the vehicle entered the center median it struck the guardrail. Once the vehicle struck the guardrail, the vehicle then collided with the cable barrier system. The vehicles front left portion dug into the ground and it flipped over while continuing to travel eastbound. It crossed over the cable barrier system and it landed on its left side approximately 200 feet from the initial point of impact.
The front passenger /deceased was pinned inside the mangled car. First responders arrived & rescue efforts commenced to extract the female from the wreckage. Helicopter service Southwest Medivac was called to the scene to attempt to transport the injured. They did not transport any occupants as it was determined moments later the front passenger was deceased.
Several hours later, 05-02-08 at 2:45 am, while media camera crews were taking footage of the wreckage. The driver was located sitting in the front passenger seat of a local news channel vehicle covering the accident. The driver was immediately taken into custody & placed under arrest. The driver was found very disoriented & highly intoxicated.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Marcelino Davila (DOB 12-12-88) of the 200 Three Crosses in Las Cruces, NM.
The results of the drivers Blood Alcohol Content Level was .17 and .16 -double over the legal limit.
He was placed under arrest by Special Traffic Investigators and charged with Accident Involving Injury or Death and for Intoxication Manslaughter.
Marcelino Davila (DOB: 12-12-88)
Charges:
1.) Intoxication Manslaughter - $50,000 Bond
2.) Accident Involving Injury or Death- $25,000 Bond
Speed and Alcohol were factors in this accident. I-10 eastbound from mile post 0 to 2 was closed for approximately 5 hours. An Investigation continues.