20-year-old driver charged with DWI after off-road vehicle crash hospitalizes 5 minors
UPDATE (Sept. 1, 2026): An arrest affidavit said two teen passengers who were injured in a Can-Am crash may need to have their fingers amputated.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office alleged Jorge Alberto Gomez Alvarez drove a Can-Am while intoxicated in the Horizon area. Deputies said it happened Saturday shortly after noon on Mandeville Avenue and Ponchatoula Street.
Documents said the Can-Am was meant to hold up to four people, including the driver. At the time of the crash, Alvarez allegedly drove it with five other passengers.
Alvarez allegedly said his aunt let him drive her Can-Am for a "joy ride" during an after-party. He drove five of his cousin's friends, the affidavit said.
Documents said he sped up before he lost control of the vehicle, causing them to roll over four times. The vehicle landed on its side.
While deputies responded to the crash, they noticed Alvarez had bloodshot eyes and struggled to keep his balance, documents said. Alvarez allegedly said he drank a can of beer before driving.
A deputy conducted a field sobriety test on Alvarez. Documents said he allegedly swayed, used his arms to balance and put his foot down constantly.
Alvarez gave two breath samples, which came out to 0.142 and 0.136 -- which are above the legal state limit of 0.08, documents said.
The five passengers went to hospitals for medical treatment.
According to documents, the crash pinned a 16-year-old passenger's head and hand under the side roof bar. The teen had three crushed fingers.
Doctors said they will wait a few days to see if the teen's fingers regain proper blood flow to heal, documents said. If they don't, they may have to amputate the fingers.
A 15-year-old also rode in the front right side of the Can-Am, documents said. The crash also crushed two of the teen's fingers. Doctors said they'll follow the same procedure to see if blood flow returns to the fingers, or they would have to be amputated.
Alvarez has been charged with two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle (DUI/DWI).
(Courtesy: EPCSO)
UPDATE (Aug. 30, 2026): The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPCSO) says 20-year-old Jorge Alberto Gomez Alvarez was arrested and charged with two counts of Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle after a crash near Horizon City, sending five minors to the hospital with injuries.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Saturday at 12:15 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Ponchatula and Mandeville in El Paso County, Texas, for a motor vehicle crash. The Sheriff's Office Special Traffic Investigators (STI) responded to the scene and took over the investigation.
The investigation determined that a black Can-Am Maverick, an off-road vehicle, was traveling westbound in the 14900 block of Mandeville. Officials say that the vehicle was driven by 20-year-old Jorge Alberto Gomez Alvarez and occupied by five juvenile passengers ranging in age from 15 to 16 years old.
Investigators determined that the Can-Am was driving on the roadway when Gomez Alvarez allegedly lost control, causing the vehicle to roll over several times.
The Sheriff's Office says all five juvenile passengers sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals for further medical evaluation.
According to officials, two of the passengers, a 15-year-old juvenile and a 16-year-old juvenile, received serious injuries.
The Sheriff's Office says Gomez Alvarez was intoxicated at the time of the crash, he was later arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on two counts of Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle. His bond was set at $10,000.
“This crash is another reminder of the serious consequences that can result from mixing alcohol, unsafe driving, and off-road vehicles on public roadways,” said Sheriff Oscar Ugarte. “These vehicles are not permitted on public roadways, and driving while intoxicated puts everyone at risk. Five young people were injured, two seriously, because of decisions that could have been avoided. We will continue working to keep impaired drivers off our roads and hold those who endanger others accountable.”
EL PASO COUNTY, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says that deputies are responding to a crash near Horizon City involving a Can-Am.
The Sherriff's Office says that the crash happened at the 14900 block of Mandeville Avenue just after 1 p.m.
Deputies are on scene and drivers are asked to seek an alternate route and expect delays in the area.
The Sheriff's Office say that as a reminder Can-Ams and other off-highway vehicles are not permitted to operate on public roadways.
Officials did not say when the roadway would reopen or if there were any injuries in the crash.
ABC-7 has reached out to the Sheriff's Office for more information.
