4 still hospitalized, 2 now released after deadly Fabens racetrack mishap
UPDATE, June 15: Four people injured when a car slammed into a crowd of spectators during a Fabens mud-racing event remained hospitalized on Tuesday, but authorities said none of their injuries were currently considered to be life-threatening.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said it had determined a total of nine people were injured in Sunday evening's mishap at the racetrack in Fabens.
Of those nine, 21-year-old Willie Valadez Ramirez would later die from his injuries. His family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses.
In addition to the four who remain hospitalized, deputies said two others were released from hospital care on Tuesday.
Initially, deputies had reported there were seven hurt after being struck by the runaway car from the racetrack; but officials on Tuesday raised that count to nine, saying there there were two others at the scene who suffered minor injuries and weren't transported to the hospital.
UPDATE, June 14: The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Monday that a 21-year-old man died from injuries he suffered after a car slammed into a crowd of spectators at a Fabens racetrack.
The fatality victim from Sunday evening's incident was identified as Willie Valadez Ramirez. A makeshift memorial was set up Monday evening in his honor at the track site where he was struck. His family also has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses.
Seven others remained hospitalized, including two who were listed Monday in critical condition.
ORIGINAL STORY, June 13: FABENS, Texas -- A car rammed into a crowd of spectators at a Fabens racetrack on Sunday evening, injuring upwards of two dozen people - including at least three critically.
The mishap unfolded about 6:30 p.m. in the 17600 block of Island Guadalupe Road at a mud-track race event.
"The preliminary investigation revealed one of the vehicles due to unknown reasons left the mud-track striking and breaking through a guard rail. Three other vehicles were also struck as a result of the initial crash," said a statement from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Viewer video provided to ABC-7 showed the scene when the car ran into the gathering of people who were there to see the mud races. (You can see it in the video player at the top of this article.)
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, citing a briefing he received from Chief Tom Whitten of the Sheriff's Office, told ABC-7 that a total of 29 people were hurt - including three who suffered very critical injuries.
The separate statement issued by the Sheriff's Office indicated eight of those victims were hospitalized, including the three spectators listed in critical condition. People gathered Sunday night outside Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso seeking word about friends and family who were hurt.
