Off-duty EPPD officer charged with DWI allegedly speeding more than 100 mph before deadly crash

A court document obtained by ABC-7 states the off-duty El Paso Police officer charged with Driving While Intoxicated after a deadly crash in Central Texas was allegedly speeding at 100 miles per hour and weaving in and out of traffic.

The document states Alan Dieguez crashed the Hyundai Velocitor he was driving into the rear of a tractor-trailer on I-35 in Jarrell, Texas early Tuesday morning.

The impact resulted in the Hyundai’s engine breaking apart from the vehicle, the document states.

The driver of the semi, Dane Rutter, stopped and exited his truck. As he was walking towards the Hyundai, the driver of a second tractor-trailer swerved to avoid the Hyundai’s engine on the highway. The document states that second semi skidded, struck Rutter, then went up in flames after rolling on its side. Rutter died at the scene.

The driver of the second semi, identified as Victor Lujan in the court document, was hospitalized with “incapacitating injuries.”

According to the court document, the driver of a third semi truck was not able to avoid the Hyundai’s engine. The third semi caught fire after striking the engine. Its driver, James Camp, was able to exit safely. Camp told investigators at the scene Dieguez passed him “at a high rate of speed and was observed driving recklessly by cutting in between other vehicles,” the document states.

Dieguez was hospitalized with minor injuries, but allegedly “fled the hospital on foot after refusing treatment.” He was eventually arrested by Round Rock Police.

Under interrogation, Dieguez allegedly told police he was the driver of the Hyundai and was driving from Austin to San Antonio. Dieguez also allegedly admitted to drinking “one of two rum and cokes,” the document states.

Dieguez was arrested and charged with DWI after he allegedly refused to perform a field sobriety test. Dieguez later provided a blood sample at a hospital.

A search of the Hyundai turned up a 9mm handgun. Investigators also charged Dieguez with Unlawful Possession or Carrying of a Weapon.

Police in El Paso told ABC-7 Tuesday Dieguez is a three-year veteran of the department assigned to the Northeast Regional Command Center. He will be placed on administrative leave when he arrives in El Paso, police officials said.

ABC-7 requested Dieguez’s disciplinary history with the department.

According to a report filed by the EPPD Internal Affairs Department, Dieguez was operating a city-owned vehicle near 9635 McCombs where he struck a wooden light pole in a private parking lot. It happened back in August of 2015.

In a formal counseling letter, El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen wrote, “your conduct caused this accident and this accident was clearly preventable … your carelessness could have resulted in more serious consequences.”

Allen warned Dieguez he was subject to “corrective action” if a similar incident happened in the future.