Police ID Teen Killed In East Side Crash Sunday

El Paso Police have identified the 14-year-old boy killed in a traffic collision Sunday night in East El Paso.

Hector Heredia, 14, of the 12000 block of Tierra Padre, was killed when the 2002 Ford Taurus he was a passenger in was involved in a car crash at about 7:53 p.m. Sunday.

Police investigators said Gilbert Velasquez, 14, of the 12000 block of Tierra Buena Dr, took his mother’s Taurus without her permission with four friends in the vehicle. They traveled north on Sun Fire when Velasquez allegedly did not stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Sun Fire and Zaragoza.

At the same time, Michelle Gaucine was driving a 2007 Hummer west on Zaragoza as the Taurus crossed in the Hummer’s path. The front of the Hummer hit the right rear portion of the Taurus causing the Taurus to come to rest on the northwest side of the intersection.

The Hummer then rolled over and into a lot in the northwest portion of the intersection. Velasquez and the 15-year old front seat passenger were transported to Sierra Providence East for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Two of the rear seat passengers in the Taurus were transported to University Medical Center for treatment.

Heredia, a rear seat passenger in the Taurus, was transported to Del Sol Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Gaucine and her two passengers were transported to Sierra Providence East for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Gaucine and her two passengers were properly restrained. It is unknown at this time if any of the occupants in the Taurus were wearing seat belts.

This is the 59th traffic related death this year as compared to 60 in 2009