Teen charged with murder following 6-vehicle crash

Update: A 17-year-old has been charged with murder following a six-vehicle crash last Friday, according to El Paso Police. This happened at 1:30 p.m. on the 1700 block of N. Stanton in west-central El Paso.

Police said Aaron Roacho and his 16-year-old passenger were fleeing from a burglary of habitation they had just committed in a 1997 Acura. While fleeing from having committed that felony, police said Roacho committed acts by his driving that were clearly dangerous to human life that caused the death of a person.

According to the complaint affidavit obtained by ABC-7, officers from the WSTAC unit were working in plain clothes that day near Stanton and Kansas conducting surveillance after a home nearby had been burglarized. The documents state Officer Villalobos observed Roacho and the other teen acting suspicious inside the Acura. The officer noticed that the two had stopped at a residence located on the 500 block of Robinson Ave. and alerted police.

According to documents, Officer Herrera, who was working in uniform, researched the vehicle registration. He was advised that the Acura had been seen the prior day leaving the scene of a burglary and theft of vehicle that happened in the northeast. Upon learning that, WSTAC Officers continued to monitor the home on Robinson. After a few minutes, documents state officers observed Roacho and the other suspect carrying bags and entering the Acura. Roacho had taken a Winchester Shotgun and a Ruger .22 caliber Rifle from the home without consent, according to the complaint affidavit.

That’s when the Acura was observed reversing out of the driveway and driving down Robinson at a high rate of speed. Officers Morena and Acuna followed the Acura, and that’s when they noticed Officer Villalobos following the vehicle as well. Officer Villalobos called for help from Officer Herrera as the Acura was seen weaving in and out of traffic.

While traveling down Stanton, police said Roacho side-swiped a 2003 Hyundai Elantra which was driven by Arlene Alcantar, 36. Roacho’s vehicle then struck a 2009 Ford Fusion which was being driven by Joanna Cangialosi, 30, with Annette Martinez, 52, and Cangialosi’s 6-month-old daughter.

The collision caused the Ford Fusion to crash into a 2006 Buick Lucerne being driven by Richard Rodriguez, 18, with his passenger Delia Rodriguez, 45. Roacho’s vehicle rotated during the crash and then struck a 2001 Nissan Sentra being driven by Erika Castro, 37.

The Ford Focus being driven by Officer Villalobos then struck the 2003 Hyundai from the rear.

Officer Herrera then noticed the 16-year-old co-defendant flee the scene on foot. While calling for help, Herrera observed Roacho exiting the Acura from the passenger side. Inside the car was a Shotgun and several other unknown items. That’s when Herrera took Roacho into custody.

Documents state Roacho kept asking Officer Herrera, “Did I kill somebody?”. The 16-year-old co-defendant was taken into custody several blocks away.

As a result of the crash, Annette Martinez sustained serious bodily injuries and was taken to University Medical Center for treatment where she died four days later.

Joanna Cangialosi and her daughter, along with Officer Villalobos were also transported to University Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Roacho sustained minor injuries and was transported to La Palmas Medical Center for treatment.The 16-year-old co-defendant was not injured in the collision.

Police said Roacho was unaware that he was under surveillance as he was fleeing the burglary and at the time of the crash. After the collision, Roacho and the 16-year-old passenger fled the scene on foot but were apprehended minutes later in the area.

Along with murder, 17-year-old Roacho is also being charged with two counts of burglary of habitation. The first burglary occurred on February 29th at the 1100 block of Galloway and the second on the 4th of March at the 500 block of Robinson.

On Friday Roacho and the 16-year-old were charged with the burglary on Robinson. The 16-year-old was turned over to the custody of the Juvenile Probation Department and Roacho was booked
into the El Paso County Detention facility under a $20,000 bond. Roacho was be rebooked into the El Paso. County Detention Facility for Murder and for the burglary on Galloway with bonds totaling $500,000.

Previous:

Police say speed is the cause of a six-vehicle collision Friday afternoon.

Special Traffic Investigators say 17-year-old Aaron Roacho was traveling south at 1700 Stanton and side-swiped another vehicle causing a chain reaction of crashes – involving an officer.

One woman involved in the crash was Annette Martinez, who sustained serious injuries and was transported to University Medical Center.

A mother and daughter were also transported to UMC for minor injuries.

Officer Nichols Villalobos, who was involved in one of the crashes was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Aaron Roacho suffered minor injuries and was transported to Las Palmas Medical Center for treatment.