Longtime Friend Shares Memories About Woman Killed In Crash

A young woman full of dreams and determination, loved by friends and family, died Wednesday after police said a drunk driver rear-ended her black Nissan.

Rejean Vela was a driving black 2004 Nissan Versa east on the 10200 block of Montana Avenue at about 1 a.m. when she was rear-ended by a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by 24-year-old Christopher Ruiz, police said. Investigators said Ruiz likely was speeding and that alcohol is a factor in this crash.

Vela, who suffered serious injuries in the collision, was taken to Del Sol Medical Center where she died Wednesday afternoon.

Vela, who lives in El Paso County, had two passengers in her car who survived with minor injuries: 21-year-old Sergio Arellano and 18-year-old Alex Munoz.

Munoz spoke with ABC-7 about the traumatic experience.

“I was so scared,” she said through tears. “It was horrible. I just tried not to bang my head on the door or the dashboard.”

Munoz had been Vela’s girlfriend of four years. “I will never stop loving her,” said Munoz. “I would never have imagined she would die in a car crash. She was always so careful.”

Munoz said Vela was a tough, independent woman. Vela had enlisted in the reserves and had a unique sense of style.

“She was so weird,” said Munoz, flashing a sad smile as she remembered the way Vela used to style her hair into a mohawk.

Munoz said she, Vela and two other friends had recently started a band. She said Vela was a talented drummer. “We didn’t even get to play a show. We were supposed to play a show this Friday. (Rejean) was so excited,” she said.

Police said the man who caused the wreck that killed Vela is named Christopher Ruiz. He was initially arrested on suspicion of intoxicated assault. Because Vela died, the charges against Ruiz are subject to change. Ruiz was booked into the El Paso County Jail, with bond set at $25,000.