Car Collides With Light Pole, Passenger Ejected Despite Wearing Seat Belt

The driver of a Mazda 626 involved in a powerful collision with a light pole in central El Paso walked away from the scene of the wreck but was later found by Border Patrol agents nearby, according to officials with the police department.

Oscar Martinez, 44, of the 5300 block of Rosa, is facing charges of Intoxicated Manslaughter, police officials said. The passenger in his car, 46-year-old Ramiro Carbajal, also of the 5300 block of Rosa, died at the scene. The wreck happened at 12:24 Friday morning in the 5600 block of El Paso Dr.

According to traffic investigators, Martinez was speeding, ran a stop sign at the intersection of Glenwood and El Paso, and then failed to turn on a curve. That’s when the Mazda hit the wooden telephone pole.

The impact was so severe, it tore away the right side of the Mazda. Carbajal, who was wearing his seat belt, was ejected from the car. Police officials said he later died at the scene.

Martinez was also wearing his seat belt and police officials said he was unharmed by the wreck. Martinez apparently walked away and tried to hide, police officials said. He was later found near the site of the wreck by Border Patrol agents, who turned him over to police.

Carbajal’s death was the 18th traffic death of 2010 as compared to only 15 at the same time last year.