Woman, 62, Dies In Hospital After Being Struck By Taxi

A woman who was struck by a taxi Thursday morning died from her injuries, police said.

Investigators with the El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations unit said 62-year-old Maria Barrientos was crossing Cliff Drive when a Chevrolet Trailblazer heading south on Stanton Street turn left onto Cliff and struck her and knocked her to the ground.

Barrientos, who lived on the 1600 block of Stanton, suffered a head injury and was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition. She died Thursday evening, police said.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer, which belongs to Checker Cab Co., was being driven by 67-year-old Manuel Ortiz of El Paso.

This is the 16th pedestrian fatality of 2011, compared with 18 at this same time in 2010. IT is also the 54th traffic-related fatality of 2011, compared with 56 as this same time last year.

No charges have been filed in the case and an investigation continues.