Deadly crash claims young mother’s life

An outpouring of grief spread through El Paso and social media at the news of the death of 25-year-old Juana Muniz.

Co-workers of hers gathered at the Palomino Tavern Monday night to remember the young woman with the big smile.

On her Facebook page, a friend posted a Stevie Ray Vaughn video, “Life Without You,” that summed up how family and friends were feeling.

El Paso Police have not said who was driving a Hummer when it collided with a Honda, killing Muniz, after running a red light on the East Side.

According to investigators, 26-year old Fernando Rodriguez and Muniz were both inside the Hummer when it crashed into the Honda

Police said it appears both were drinking and neither was wearing a seatbelt, but it’s unclear who was driving when they ran a red light traveling south on Zaragoza and crashed with a Honda traveling eastbound on Gateway East.

Both Rodriguez and Muniz were thrown out of the vehicle.

“From what I saw the couple was landing, flew from the hummer and they flew out through the sunroof,” said Charlie Barron, an off-duty El Paso Police officer who witnessed the wreck.

Muniz died at the hospital. Rodriguez remains in serious condition, according to Police. Investigators said it appears Rodriguez and Muniz were drinking and neither wore seatbelts.

The driver of the Honda, Carlos Barragan, 22, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Muniz’s facebook page was inundated on Monday with messages of condolences and shock.

“No, no, no!! Juanita, tell me it is not true,” one friend wrote. The 25-year-old leaves behind a young daughter. Muniz was a bartender at Palomino Tavern in West El Paso and bar owner Austin Allen said Monday he planned to start an account for Muniz’s daughter.

Former co-workers of Muniz said she had recently moved. Her Facebook page lists Phoenix as her current city.