CYCLIST STRUCK BY DWI DRIVER RESULTS IN 9th TRAFFIC FATALITY
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938 
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2119
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date / Time: Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:35 AM
SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff's Office – LOWER VALLEY PATROL / SPECIAL TRAFFIC INVESTIGATORS (STI)
EVENT: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTS IN FATALITY / VICTIM IDENTIFIED
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 15000 bock of N. Loop Fabens, TX
DATE / TIME: Saturday , August 29, 2009 10:00 AM
RESULT: VICTIM IDENTIFIED / ARREST MADE
FABENS, TX– On Saturday 08-29-09 just before 10:00 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 15100 block of North Loop in reference to a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist. Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2001 Green Nissan Xterra pulled over on the side of the road (on the south side of North Loop) along with an unresponsive male victim lying on the dirt area off the roadway. Deputies observed the Nissan with front end damage to the passenger side & found the victims a bicycle with heavy damage in a drainage canal. Special traffic investigators were summoned to the scene. The cyclist died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Preliminary Investigation by STI’s determined the 47 year-old deceased Victim was riding his bicycle on the improved shoulder area of the eastbound lane when a 2001 Green Nissan Xterra traveling in the same direction approached from behind. The 25 year-old female driver of the Xterra veered southbound off the roadway, violently striking the victim from the rear as he traveled on the shoulder. The impact was so severe, it caused the bicycle to be completely broken in half. The driver of the Xterra who remained on scene was discovered to be intoxicated and was taken into custody by Sheriff’s Deputies.
Next of Kin Notification was made a few hours later, the Victim was identified as GUSTAVO VEGA (47) of the 16000 block of Keno in Horizon City, TX.
(LEFT: Photo of victim Gustavo Vega provided by family members)
The driver of the Xterra was identified as ARACELI MARRUFO NAVA (25) of the 8300 block of Roseway El Paso, TX. It remains unclear where NAVA was heading to.
Further investigation revealed NAVA was “partying” throughout the night with friends where she had been drinking several alcoholic beverages with her last drink being around 6:00 AM.
NAVA was arrested & charged with INTOXICATED MANSLAUGHTER and remains at the El Paso County Detention Facility.
ARRESTED:
ARACELI MARRUFO NAVA (25)
INTOXICATED MANSLAUGHTER - $40,000 BOND
ALCOHOL WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR C ONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT.
THIS MARKS THE 9TH FATAL ACCIDENT OUTSIDE EL PASO CITY LIMITS.
NO OTHER INFORMATION IS BEING RELEASED AT THIS TIME
(PHOTOS BELOW: COURTESY EPCSO)
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.