El Paso man in critical condition after being ejected from Hummer in rollover crash blamed on alcohol, speed

EL PASO, Texas -- Speeding and drinking were blamed as key factors in a late night rollover crash involving a Hummer that critically injured the driver and also left a teenager hospitalized, police said Friday.

The traffic collision occurred Thursday night in the 6400 block of South Desert near Artcraft on El Paso's west side.

Investigators said a speeding Hummer attempted to pass another vehicle when it sideswiped a small SUV before swerving out of control and rolling over several times.

The Hummer driver, 22-year-old Arturo Meza, was ejected and suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. He remained hospitalized Thursday morning in critical condition.

A 15-year-old boy riding in the Hummer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, while police said a second passenger fled on foot after the crash.

Authorities said the driver of the small SUV and his four passengers were uninjured in the incident.

Det. Diane Mack said "speed and alcohol are contributing factors in this collision," but she didn't indicate what charges Meza might face.