82-year-old El Paso veteran is city’s 7th traffic death of year

EL PASO, Texas -- An 82-year-old El Paso veteran who crashed his car into a light pole a week ago has become the city's seventh traffic death of the new year.

Police said Friday they were notified by the medical examiner of Louis Marzitelli's death from injuries he suffered in a crash at a west El Paso intersection on Jan. 17.

Investigators said Marzitelli crashed into a traffic light pole in the 2800 block of W. Paisano at Executive Center Blvd.

Marzitelli initially survived the crash and was hospitalized in stable condition before later dying.

An obituary notice from Sunset Funeral Homes said Marzitelli was a military veteran who has two daughters, 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Friends and former co-workers described Marzitelli as a "sweet, wonderful and caring fellow" who always treated others with "dignity and respect."