New Mexico teen charged with 2 counts of vehicular homicide in head-on collision

Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies say she also could be charged with DWI.

Sheriff’s deputies were sent to a traffic collision around 7 p.m. near the intersection of Canal Road and Castaneda Road.

They found a 2003 GMC truck, reportedly driven by 16-year-old Vanessa Rodriguez, and a 2002 Hyundai Sonata driven by 32-year-old Elida Garcia.

Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger in her vehicle, 50-year-old Maria Granados, was transported to an El Paso hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Deputies say there were two passengers in Rodriguez’s truck, 16-year-old Sonia Rodriguez and a 13-year-old boy. Sonia Rodriguez, no relation to the driver, was killed after being partially ejected from the truck after it rolled on impact with the Hyundai.

Sheriff’s officials are not releasing the 13-year-old’s name as a courtesy to his relatives.

Sheriff’s officials say that an initial investigation revealed the teens in the pickup truck had been drinking beer earlier in the evening. Vanessa Rodriguez told investigators could not remember where the alcohol came from.

Vanessa Rodriguez told deputies she and Sonia had started drinking after school and later picked up the 13-year-old boy, who was Sonia’s cousin.

The three were reportedly on their way to Salem, where Vanessa lives, when Vanessa decided she wanted to return to Doa Ana Community College to finish a report for school.

Vanessa Rodriguez told investigators Sonia began to argue with her because she wanted to go home, and allegedly grabbed the steering wheel.

Vanessa Rodriguez told investigators she tried to take control of the vehicle, but it had already drifted into the oncoming lane.

A blood sample was taken at the scene of the crash, which will determine Vanessa Rodriguez’s alcohol level.

Hatch Police Chief Lee Alirez says the community was in mourning Wednesday, following the wreck.

“A very horrific accident, one of the worst I’ve ever seen in my entire tenure as an officer. It hits home very, very deeply. The community really comes together. There was no short of community members driving, running, walking, to get out there and help in any way they could,” Chief Alirez said.

Vanessa was arrested Tuesday night, charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, driving without a license, and one misdemeanor count of allowing herself to be served as a minor. Deputies transported her to the Doa Ana County Juvenile Detention Center where she is being held without bond.

A preliminary review of the case with the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office determined Rodriguez will be charged as an adult.