Teen fighting for life after car was hit by Bliss soldier allegedly driving drunk

Jenna Chairez had just graduated from Coronado High School. She was planning to go to UTEP to study nursing. She is youngest of four, and the only girl.

“She’s lively. She loves animals. She’s kind-hearted,” said Jenna’s aunt Christina Flores.

Chairez is now fighting for her life. She was rear-ended on July 28th near the 6600 block of Dyer in the Northeast. A complaint affidavit obtained by ABC-7 states Chairez was hit by 20-year-old Johnnie Durham, a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss.

According to court documents, Durham told officers he was coming from a bar, but did not have anything to drink. Documents state Durham then later told police he had had “about 3 or 4 shots of vodka.” Durham was arrested and charged with Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle.

“He was driving so fast that he rear-ended her car. That caused her car to spin out of control and she hit a concrete barrier. When she hit that concrete barrier, it caused immediate bleeding in her brain, and also a fractured collar bone,” Flores said.

Chairez is currently at a hospital in Albuquerque receiving treatment. She’s unresponsive, but began to breathe on her own on Tuesday.

“It’s been traumatic. Jenna’s whole life was put at a stop because of this person causing the accident. Because a drunk driver got behind the wheel,” Flores said.

Chairez’s family has set up a GoFundMe account in order to help pay for medical expenses.

ABC-7 reached out to Fort Bliss officials to see if Durham has faced any disciplinary action. We have not yet heard back.