El Paso newborn dies 2 days after mom gives birth following car crash

EL PASO, Texas -- A newborn baby became El Paso's 63rd traffic death of the year, dying just two days after his mother gave birth following a head-on traffic crash, police said Monday.

The newborn was delivered at University Medical Center following a two-car crash involving the baby's mother, 42-year-old Wendy Sandoval, in the 8700 block of Dyer on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Investigators said the pregnant Sandoval's car crossed the center line and ran head-on into the other car. Police have not indicated why her car crossed over into incoming traffic.

The boy died two days after Sandoval gave birth at UMC.

It was the second case from last Wednesday of a car crash being blamed for a later death. Earlier Monday, police said a 71-year-old El Paso woman walked away from a car crash seemingly unhurt, only to die from breathing issues hours later. She was listed as the 62nd traffic death of the year.

Authorities said there were a total of 70 traffic-related deaths in all of last year, which was up from 55 fatalities the prior year.