Area Sees Spike In Deadly Auto Crashes

By Ashlie Hardway

EL PASO — Ten people have died in auto-related collisions in the past ten days within El Paso County.

19-year-old Valerie Talamantes was killed early Saturday morning by a driver who police suspect was intoxicated. Valerie’s father, Robert Talamantes, wants other drivers in El Paso to recognize his pain, so that no one else has to feel it.

“I just hope everybody makes it home okay. You’ve got taxi cabs, they’ll give you free rides home. Just be responsible and don’t let anyone else die on the highway,” Talamantes said.

Two years ago, Cathy Hinojosa lived through a similar nightmare. Her son, Antonio was killed by a drunk driver, while crossing Lee Trevino at Trawood. She still visits a memorial for her son once a week.

Valerie’s father said he sensed something was wrong when she didn’t come straight home from her boyfriend’s house. When he and his wife went to look for her, they came across her car, smashed froma rear-end collision and a police officer on the scene.

“I said, ‘Let’s go to the hospital.’ [The officer] said, ‘She didn’t make it,'” Talamantes recalled.

Now, Talamantes and Hinojosa share a grief that they wouldn’t want for any other family in El Paso. They want people to pay attention, and think twice.

“If somebody lives because of what we’re saying today and what we’ve gone through, then it’s worth all this anguish,” Hinojosa said.

“Just be responsible and don’t let anyone else die on the highway,” Talamantes said.