UPDATE: Fatal single vehicle roll-over - 18000 block of Montana (far east El Paso County)
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: Thursday, June 5, 2008 1:30 PM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol / Special Traffic Investigators)
WHAT: Motor Vehicle Accident- Fatality
WHERE: 18000 Block of Montana (Far East) El Paso County, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, June 5, 2008 at approximately 9:30 AM
WHY: UPDATE
Preliminary Investigation:
On 06-05-08 at about 9:30 AM, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to area of the 18000 block of Montana (Highway 62/180) in reference to a single motor vehicle accident roll-over with serious injuries. Special Traffic Investigator were summoned to the scene.
Upon arrival, Officials from the Sheriff's Office & the East Montana Volunteer Fire Dept. found the vehicle on its side in the desert area just right of the roadway. There were many on-lookers and traffic was backed up for several miles. Deputies began working the accident interviewing witnesses and re-routing traffic out of the area. Traffic Investigators arrived and commenced their investigation.
Special Traffic Investigators determined that a White 1998 Ford Explorer was traveling westbound approaching the 18000 block of Montana. The 20 year-old female driver of the Explorer for unknown reasons lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered to the right and over-corrected left which caused the Explorer to roll several times until it came to a stop on its side next to the roadway. There were only 2 occupants in the Explorer.
A 32 year-old female passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The Victim was identified as Stephanie Wahl of Carlsbad,NM.
The 20 year-old female driver was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. She is identified as Angelica Mendoza also of Carlsbad, NM. She is a niece to the victim.
Montana was closed for approximately 4 hours. Traffic had to be re-routed to Interstate 10.
This accident remains under investigation by Special Traffic Investigators.