Update: Best Friends Killed In Thursday Crash Identified

A 21st birthday celebration turned tragic early Thursday morning when two best friends were killed in a car crash in East El Paso.

Police said Evalynn Rose and Jeannette Lazaro, both 21, died in the crash that took place about 2:14 a.m. at the intersection of Turner Road and Lee Boulevard.

Police said the women were in a red Chevrolet Aveo, driven by Gabriela Delgado, 20. Delgado was driving east on Turner Road, stopped at a stop sign, and then proceeded into oncoming traffic.

The car they were in was hit by a red Dodge Charger driven by Arturo Vasquez, 21. Rose and Lazaro died at the scene. Vasquez has been booked into the El Paso County Jail and charged with his second DWI offense.

Police believe Delgado had also been drinking and said charges against her are pending. Investigators also said none of the five passenger in the car Delgado was driving were wearing a seatbelt.

“People are always telling you don’t drink and drive. Always have a designated driver. A lot of people think they’re almost invincible,” said Raquel Lopez, a friend of the two women killed. “This shows that things can happen.”

Friends said Lazaro was a model and an aspiring artist, who loved to dance. Lazaro and Rose had been best friends for nine years.

“They are both just so full of life and so fun spirited. I know that they wouldn’t want any of us to be crying or any of us to be sad,” Lopez said. “They would really want us just to be happy.”