Racing on roadway leads to Fatal Accident / 1 Arrest made -Charges pending on second subject
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12pm
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol / Special Traffic Investigators -S.T.I.)
WHAT: MVA Fatality - Racing leads to Fatal accident
WHERE: Intersection of Herring Rd. & Socorro Rd., San Elizario, TX 79849
WHEN: Tuesday July 22, 2008 at 3: 25 PM
WHY: Arrest Made / Charges pending on 2nd subject
INFORMATION:
Tuesday, 07-22-08 at approximately 3:25 PM- Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Socorro and Herring San Elizario, Texas in reference to a two vehicle accident / fatality. Sheriff Deputies along with the San Elizario Volunteer Fire Dept. & Agents from the U.S. Border Patrol arrived moments later to find both vehicles involved with extensive damage. Special Traffic Investigators were summoned to the scene. The vehicles involved were a 2003 red Ford Focus occupied by 1 male driver and a 1996 Blue / Green Toyota 4 Runner occupied by a female driver with her 4 year-old daughter & 1 year-old son. A third vehicle, a gray 2000 Ford Mustang with 2 male occupants which contributed to the accident was also located at the scene.
After an investigation by STI's & several eye witness accounts, it was determined that the the drivers of the Ford Mustang & Ford Focus were racing eastbound on Socorro Rd. at high rates of speed. Socorro Road is a bi-directional roadway with one lane running east and one lane running west and is divided by a dotted yellow line. Both vehicles were traveling on both sides of the roadway trying to out distance each other at high speeds approaching the intersection of Socorro Rd. & Herring Rd.
The Toyota 4 Runner was stopped at the stop sign facing north on Herring and proceeded into the intersection. The two vehicles racing were rapidly approaching the intersection, the Ford Mustang was in front of the Ford Focus & as they were approaching Herring Rd., the Ford Focus attempted to pass the Mustang on the left westbound lane traveling eastbound. The Mustang was able to slow down to avoid colliding with the 4 Runner. The Ford Focus failed to slow down and struck the 4 Runner on the driver’s side door causing it to roll onto its side.
The two small children in the Toyota 4 runner, ages 4 & 1 were ejected from the vehicle. The 4 year-old was ejected several feet & the 1 year-old was partially ejected. Both did not suffer life threatening injuries and are in stable condition at Thomason Hospital. The names of the children will not be released because of their age. The female driver suffered extensive injuries & was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as Ana Elva Morales (21) of the 1300 block of Elara in San Elizario, TX.
The driver of the Ford Focus was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He remains at the hospital in stable condition. He is pending charges & will not be identified at this time.
The driver of the Mustang was taken into custody by Deputies from the Special Traffic Investigations Unit. He was arrested and charged with Racing on a Highway causing death. He was identified as Alberto Valdez (22) of 1100 block of NE G St. in Fabens, TX. He remains at the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $50,000 bond.
Valdez has been previously arrested for the same thing (racing) back in 2005.
The posted speed limit on Socorro Rd. is 55 mph zone. Both vehicles were traveling at speeds close to 100 mph just before the collision. The intersection of Socorro Rd. & Herring Rd. was closed for approximately 6 hours. Agents from the U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the road closures.
Alberto Valdez (22)
Charge: Racing on Highway (causing serious bodily injury or death)- $50,000 Bond
(Below: Images of accident scene)
(PHOTOS- Courtesy El Paso County Sheriff's Office)