EPPD: Woman and passenger killed in rollover, speeding to blame

The El Paso Police Department has identified those involved in a deadly rollover crash over the weekend.

Police said Mariah Bernardez, 24, and her passenger, 23-year-old Michael Issa, were in a Honda on US 54 near Altura Ave. at around noon Sunday. Both died in the wreck, police said.

Authorities said Bernardez was changing lanes erratically and swerved right across the dirt median and struck a cable, knocking down two poles and the cable. Bernardez’s car continued to move across lanes when it collided with a Chevrolet Silverado.

Bernardez and Issa were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, where they later died. Police identified the driver of the Silverado as 21-year old Christian Rivera of Fort Bliss. Police did not say whether Rivera suffered any injuries.

Special traffic investigators said Bernardez’s failure to control speed was a contributing factor in the crash.

Police said this is the second traffic fatality of 2018 compared to 1 during this same time period in 2017.