Documents: Teen blamed for deadly race had no driver’s license, ‘had just started driving’

The man killed during an illegal street race, and the woman charged for his death, challenged each other during a social gathering to learn who’s car was faster, a criminal complaint obtained by ABC-7 states.

The deadly wreck happened at about 12:20 a.m. on April 15, 2018 on the 14100 block of Socorro Road, east of San Elizario High School.

Investigators with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Sarah Hernandez and charged her with Racing Causing Seriously Bodily Injury and Racing Causing Death. A witness identified in the documents as Arturo Rodriguez told investigators Hernandez did not have a driver’s license at the time of the wreck and “had just started to drive.”

Hernandez was driving a 2002 Ford Mustang and was racing a grey 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 46-year-old Roberto Rodriguez, the document states. The complaint affidavit did not clarify whether Arturo Rodriguez and Roberto Rodriguez are related.

During the alleged street race, Roberto Rodriguez pulled over to the shoulder and attempted to make a u-turn, the complaint affidavit states. As Roberto Rodriguez made the u-turn, Hernandez collided into his Grand Prix with her Mustang.

The document states Hernandez’s car struck the driver’s side door of the Grand Prix and Roberto Rodriguez died at the scene. A woman riding in the Mustang with Hernandez, identified in the court documents as Jessica Avitia, suffered serious injuries. Paramedics rushed Avitia to Del Sol Medical Center in East El Paso. Hernandez suffered minor injuries, the document states.

While investigating the wreck, detectives interviewed several witnesses who said Hernandez and Roberto Rodriguez were at a social gathering inside a home on the 13000 block of Bugambilia. During the social gathering, Rodriguez allegedly challenged Hernandez to a race so they could find out who’s car was faster. One of the witnesses, Arturo Rodriguez, told investigators the group was “drinking, talking and playing cards, but that Hernandez was not drinking.” The document did not clarify whether Roberto Rodriguez had been drinking.

Arturo Rodriguez said Hernandez and Roberto Rodriguez then left the gathering. Arturo Rodriguez said he called Hernandez and she answered her phone while she was driving. Arturo Rodriguez warned Hernandez not to be racing and Hernandez told him she was only “going to the store” and hung up.

Arturo Rodriguez also told investigators the 46-year-old Roberto Rodriguez did not have a driver’s license, the complaint affidavit states.

When detectives interviewed Avitia, the injured passenger in Hernandez’s car, Avitia told them she got in the car with Hernandez because she believed they were only going to the store. Avitia overheard Hernandez’s conversation with Arturo Rodriguez and heard Hernandez saying, “No. No. No. We are not going to race. We are only going to the store.”

At the time Hernandez received the phone call, Avitia noticed Robert Rodriguez was ahead of them on Chicken Ranch Road. When Robert Rodriguez turned onto Socorro Road, Hernandez followed him, Avitia said.

At this point, Hernandez allegedly accelerated and passed Roberto Rodriguez’s Grand Prix, Avitia told detectives. Roberto Rodriguez eventually caught up to them and passed Hernandez’s Mustang, Avitia said. “The vehicles passed each other fast several times trying to outdistance each other,” the court document states, adding they were racing on Socorro Road, “a two-lane road with one lane for eastbound traffic and one lane for westbound traffic.”

Avitia told investigators she noticed Roberto Rodriguez pull over ahead of them onto the unimproved shoulder. At that same time, Hernandez “started to speed up faster to pass” the Grand Prix, Avitia said. Roberto Rodriguez started making the u-turn as Hernandez was approaching in her Mustang, resulting in the collision. Avitia said she could not get out of the Mustang because of pain in her hips. She told Hernandez to get off the Mustang and check on Roberto Rodriguez. Hernandez reportedly said she touched Roberto Rodriguez, who “felt weird” and called 911.

Avitia suffered a broken pelvis and a fractured left wrist. She required surgery and walks with a limp, the complaint affidavit states.

Hernandez was jailed on bonds totaling $55,000, the Sheriff’s Office said.