‘Help me get my beer’: 21-year-old man charged for deadly hit-and-run on Loop 375
UPDATE (July 9, 2026) -- A social media post reportedly helped police identify 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro as a suspect in a deadly hit-and-run crash on the Loop 275 near Pellicano, according to arrest documents.
Documents said Castro's car flipped onto its roof after crashing into Manuel Oliva Contreras June 19 just before midnight. Contreras later died to his injuries.
Pictures of the crash showed a beer can wedged between Castro's windshield and dashboard on the driver's side, according to documents.
Before Castro allegedly left the crash by foot, witnesses took photos of him, police said. The photos circulated online, particularly through the Instagram page FitFam El Paso.
(Courtesy: @therealfitfamelpaso)
One witness told police Castro allegedly appeared drunk in how he smelled, documents said. The witness took pictures of Castro and said he wore a green Mexico jersey with jeans. After posting the picture, the witness received information about Castro, including a picture of his car and Facebook profile with his full name.
Another witness told police Castro allegedly said, "Help me get my beer" and tried to get a cooler out of his car, documents said.
Someone called 911 to report their friend gave Castro a ride without knowing about the hit-and-run, documents said. The reporter recognized Castro on FitFam's post because he wore the same clothes -- a green Mexico soccer jersey and jeans -- before leaving the friend's house, police said.
Police met with the an unnamed "Involved Other" who reportedly drove Castro away from the crash site for questioning. Documents said the involved other was with her friend at a Circle K gas station when Castro allegedly told them he didn't know where he was and needed a ride.
The involved other decided to give Castro a ride home. She and Castro were dropped off by the involved other's friend at an apartment complex where she had her car parked, documents said.
From there, Castro allegedly asked her to take him to a nightclub in Lower Valley El Paso to find his friends, documents said. Castro couldn't find his friends at the club.
The involved other told Castro she needed to go home and said she would drive Castro to his home in Fabens the next morning, documents said.
At the involved other's home, her friend she was with earlier sent her the FitFam post about the crash with pictures reportedly showing Castro, documents said.
The involved other confronted Castro about the crash, and he allegedly left her home and ran across the street to ask her neighbor for a ride, police said. When he didn't get a ride, he allegedly left toward the desert area, documents said.
The involved other said Castro told her his full name, police said.
Later, police obtained surveillance video from the Circle K Castro reportedly met the involved other and her friend at. Documents said video showed Castro get into an SUV and leave the gas station.
Police also found an old booking photo of Castro as the registered owner of his car. Documents said the photo matched the description witnesses gave police about how Castro looked.
UPDATE (July 8, 2026) -- Tuesday, El Paso Police Department arrested and charged 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro for a crash that killed 76-year-old Manuel Oliva Contreras.
Police said Castro allegedly drove at a "high rate of speed" and read-ended Contreras on Loop 375 South. Castro reportedly left the crash site by foot, according to a police report.
Police booked him into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $500,000 bond.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – A 76-year-old El Paso man died following a hit-and-run crash on Loop 375 South near Pellicano, according to the El Paso Police Department.
Police said officers responded to the crash at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 on Loop 375 South near Pellicano and found two vehicles at the scene.
Investigators said the driver of one vehicle fled before officers arrived.
The other vehicle involved was a 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by Manuel Oliva Contreras of East El Paso. Contreras was transported to a local hospital after the crash. Police initially believed his injuries were not life-threatening, but later learned he died from those injuries.
The investigation was turned over to the Special Traffic Investigations unit.
According to preliminary findings, a dark colored vehicle was traveling southbound on Loop 375 at a high rate of speed when it rear-ended the Nissan Sentra, which was also traveling southbound. Investigators said the driver of the dark colored vehicle then fled the scene on foot.
Police have not identified the driver of the fleeing vehicle.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the crash or the driver involved to contact police at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477.
The crash marks the city's 22nd traffic fatality of 2026. At the same point last year, El Paso had recorded 29 traffic fatalities.
