EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A family continues to grieve after their daughter was hit by a pickup truck in Sunland Park after buying fireworks and left for dead.
Just before 11 p.m. on July 3, New Mexico State Police say they responded to a crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian. On arrival, they discovered the suspect had fled the scene. A man was rushed to the hospital and the woman, 26-year-old Graciela Citlali-Tonazin Sahs, was dead at the scene.
Sahs’ parents tell KTSM they didn’t know she had died until July 4 when El Paso Police officers relayed the news on behalf of NMSP.
“It’s just so heartbreaking and just knowing how it happened. She deserves to be here with us,” said Nikolas Nava, Sahs’ father.
“I just went into shock. At first, I was like, ‘Yeah, right. Shut up. Who sent you, right? You guys must be joking and only joking.’ And he was like, ‘No, ma’am, I’m so sorry,” said Sahs’ mother, Jennifer Nava-Sahs.
The youngest of three, Sahs was described as an artist who put her creative mind towards making her own costumes for events like Comic Con and painting. Her parents said she had her whole life ahead of her after getting a new job and deciding to go back to school to become a veterinary technician.
Nava-Sahs joked that her daughter was never a fan of school, recalling the days she would have to give daily wake-up calls and drag Sahs out of bed.
“She was super smart. She never had to open a book. She never had to study, nothing. When she was little, she always got the honor roll, of course,” she said.
“She’s my baby. She was just, you know, most spoiled and she was always with me and she liked the same things I like. She liked to go to the swap meet and go to estate sales and thrift stores and she just liked all those things,” her mother said.
Now, her parents said they are focusing on just getting through the days, hour by hour without their daughter. Nava telling KTSM he’s angry with the man, 61-year-old Vicente Vasquez Jr., who was arrested and charged with his daughter’s homicide.
“It’s OK to be scared, but stop. Or if you don’t stop, turn yourself in and be like, ‘I think I did something,’ but for the guy to run away like a coward, I don’t know. And knowing that it’s not the first time he’s gotten arrested for it, you know that he’s been arrested previously for drunk driving, what was he doing behind the wheel,” Nava said.
Vasquez was arrested on July 5 after his niece contacted law enforcement. According to court documents, Vasquez’s niece told officers Vasquez had told her he killed someone by the casino. She also said she received a text from Vasquez saying he killed someone or crashed in front of the casino.
“I’m very angry. Not only for taking away our daughter, but breaking her heart you know, I mean it’s a double whammy. He’s destroyed our family,” Nava said.
Sahs’ parents said they’re grateful to law enforcement for capturing and charging Vasquez as quickly as they did, but believe there is still work to be done concerning repeat offenders.
“I mean, how many other victims are out there? Families there are still waiting to find out who did this to the daughters, to their kids, or to their family. I know it’s a pipe dream just saying, ‘Oh, you know, things will get better, but there’s got to be consequences,'” Nava said.
“I think the consequences have to be harsher,” Nava-Sahs said.
Vasquez was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with no bond.
A GoFundMe has been set up by the family to help with expenses.
Sahs’ family said they are grateful for the support they have received from the community and those who knew their daughter.
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