EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An El Paso woman was convicted of vehicular homicide last week after driving drunk and causing a fatal head-on crash in March 2023 in New Mexico, according to the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Alamogordo.
The D.A.’s office says Rebecca Herrera, 34, was convicted of vehicular homicide on Wednesday, June 25, after driving while intoxicated and killing Issac Garcia, 21, on March 5, 2023, near the Otero County Prison Facility on U.S. Highway 54 in New Mexico.
The D.A.’s Office says Herrera was driving just before 2 a.m. from a party in West El Paso to East El Paso when she became disoriented and crossed into New Mexico.
At 1:40 a.m., a 911 call reported a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction near the Otero County Prison Facility.
Herrera was identified as the driver, heading southbound in the northbound lanes at speeds reaching 99 miles per hour, the D.A.’s Office said.
At the same time, Garcia was en route to his job at the Otero County Prison Facility when the head-on collision occurred.
An Otero County Sheriff’s deputy arrived at the scene, where Herrera admitted to drinking excessively and leaving a party in El Paso, the D.A.’s Office said.
Herra was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“New Mexico State Police (NMSP) assumed control of the investigation and recovered substantial evidence, including statements from Herrera and physical findings from the scene. She was transported to the University Medical Center in El Paso for treatment,” the D.A.’s Office said.
Following the verdict, Herrera was remanded into custody, where she waits for sentencing. She faces up to 18 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the New Mexico State Police, with support from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office.
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