EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash last month in El Paso’s Lower Valley has been arrested and is facing a charge of collision involving death, El Paso Police said.
German Duarte, 30, is facing the charge after crashing into a vehicle on Thursday, Dec. 5, and fleeing on foot. He was arrested two weeks after the crash on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Police say they responded at 10 p.m. that Thursday to the 7300 block of North Loop in reference to a two-vehicle crash.
Once police arrived, they found Irma Moreno, 64, who had been ejected from a vehicle.
Police say the preliminary investigation revealed that Moreno was traveling east on North Loop just after Hawkins when she began to make a U-turn to head west onto North Loop.
At the same time, Duarte was speeding westbound on North Loop in an SUV, police say.
Police say Duarte struck Moreno, causing her to be ejected from the vehicle she was in.
Duarte then continued westbound on North Loop until the SUV became disabled just past the intersection of Hawkins. He then fled on foot from the scene, police say.
Moreno was transported to a local hospital where she later died as a result of her injuries.
Speed on behalf of Duarte and failure to yield to traffic on behalf of Moreno may have contributed to this crash, police say.
This is the 64th traffic fatality of 2024 compared to 75 at the same time in 2023.
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