Multiple Traffic Fatalities Lead Police To Crack Down On Drunk Driving

It’s been a deadly year on the road this year and El Paso Police want to do all they can to stop the trend.

So far, eight people have died on El Paso’s streets. El Paso Police said four of those deaths were alcohol-related.

“The carnage that’s taking place on a continual basis in this town on these roadways cannot be tolerated,” said El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen. “Special traffic investigators have to go out and literally pick up the body parts off the streets of this city.”

Most recently, investigators found 21-year-old’s Evalynn Rose and Jeannette Lazaro slumped over in the backseat of a car at an El Paso intersection. Police said the driver of their car — 20-year-old Gaby Delgado – had been drinking. Criminal charges against her are pending.

“I would like for every single time that someone comes out of a bar to see a patrol unit cruising by so they would think a little bit more hard about whether they want to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive off with alcohol in their system,” Allen said.

The task force, composed of about 20 officers, will increase presence outside of bars and at intersections where there are a high number of collisions. They will also be targeting bar owners.

“We have to have responsible citizens but we have to have responsible business owners,” said Sgt. G. Anthony Canonizado, with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. “Because if we can track back the source of this alcohol to overservice, then we’re going to go after that permit.”

Besides members of the police department and TABC, Mothers Against Drunk Driving said they are stepping up efforts of their own through legislation.

“This year, it is a legislative year so we are going to go hopefully to get the interlock ignition locks and sobriety checkpoints law passed,” said Grace Talamantes. Right now, sobriety checkpoints are illegal in Texas and MADD wants interlock ignitions for all DWI offenders.

“Right now, you’re more likely to get killed on the streets of this town while you’re driving than get murdered,” Allen said.