Woman charged with Intoxication Manslaughter W/Vehicle after pedestrian dies from injuries
UPDATE (4:53 p.m., Feb. 12): ABC-7 obtained an affidavit revealing new details about the moment Aurora Morales hit and killed Ana Maria Paniagua with a truck.
It happened at Juanito's Liquor Store in the Lower Valley, according to the affidavit. El Paso police arrived at the store's parking lot after the collision was reported. Fire Medical Services sent Paniagua to the hospital, where she later died to her injuries.
Paniagua's daughter said she was running errands with her mom when they noticed Morales was "in need of assistance." Paniagua's daughter said Morales was drinking alcohol "in an attempt to forget the passing of her son" eight years ago. Paniagua and her daughter helped Morales go back home.
After finishing their errands, Paniagua and her daughter checked on Morales a second time but noticed her truck was no longer at her home. They drove around the area to find her and spotted the truck at Juanito's Liquor Store.
Documents said Paniagua went up to the running vehicle, which was in the reverse gear, to offer Morales a ride home. Morales moved to the center seat and released the brake without putting the truck in park. The truck rolled backwards, trapped then injured Paniagua.
An officer asked Morales what happened. Documents said she said, "I was driving backwards but I never saw her!"
A DWI Task Force officer later asked Morales if she was driving during the incident, and she said she wasn't, documents said. Documents said the officer arrested Morales after determining she was intoxicated.
UPDATE (11:10 AM, FEB 10): Court documents reveal that 62-year-old Aurora Morales was arrested and charged with a Intoxication Manslaughter W A Vehicle.
This comes after 57-year-old Ana Maria Paniagua, died from her injuries from a collision Saturday evening.
According to court documents, Morales was booked into the Downtown County Jail with a bond of $250,000.
UPDATE (8:50 AM): According to the El Paso Police Department, the pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle near the 7800 block of North Loop in the Lower Valley on Saturday has died from her injuries.
Police identified the pedestrian killed in the collision as 57-year-old Ana Maria Paniagua.
According to police investigation, it was revealed that Paniagua offered the driver, later identified as 62-year-old Aurora Morales, to drive her home.
While Morales was changing seats, the vehicle began to roll backward and struck Paniagua, police say.
Paniagua was transported to the hospital where police confirmed she died from her injuries.
EPPD says that the DWI Task force was called to assist with the investigation.
Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident to contact STI at 915-212-4080 or the nonemergency number at 915-832-4000.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, we will provide updates on air and online once they become available.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - El Paso Police say a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle along the 7800 block of North Loop in the Lower Valley just before 6 p.m.
The pedestrian received serious injuries.
Special Traffic Investigators are responding to the area.
