Woman accused of deadly wrong way crash on I-10 told police she thought she was on Loop 375
UPDATE (Feb. 6, 2026) -- "Obviously not." That's what Britney Torres, the woman accused of driving the wrong way on I-10 West and causing the crash that killed Jesus Chico Jr., told investigators when they asked her if she'd felt comfortable to drive her car in the state she was in prior to crashing. That's according to court documents obtained by ABC-7.
Documents say on Tuesday, February 3rd, the responding officer was flagged down by a passerby who stated a head-on crash happened on I-10 West. Chico Jr. was later pronounced dead, while Torres was taken to the hospital. At the hospital, court documents say Torres admitted that she'd been drinking and had an unknown number of shots. Investigators also reportedly found alcohol in her car.
Torres then told investigators that she believed she was on Loop 375 and was on her way home from visiting her sister, documents say. Investigators asked her if she had felt capable of operating her car in the state she was in prior to the crash; Torres allegedly replied, "Obviously not."
Documents add that officers determined Torres showed signs of intoxication. Torres was later placed under arrest.
UPDATE (Feb. 5, 2026) -- The woman accused of driving the wrong way on I-10 West and causing a deadly crash has now been charged. 25-year-old Britney Torres is charged with intoxication manslaughter. Torres was booked into jail on a $150,000 bond.
El Paso Police say Torres was traveling the wrong way; at the same time, Jesus Chico Jr. was driving on I-10 West. Police say Torres hit Chico Jr.'s car head on. Torres was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, while Chico Jr. died from his injuries.
EPPD says this is the fifth traffic fatality of 2026.
UPDATE (12:02 pm): The El Paso Police Department has identified the person killed in the crash Tuesday night as 25-year-old, Jesus Chico Jr.
According to police, the Special Traffic Investigations Unit responded to a crash involving two vehicles at 10:39 pm.
Chico Jr. was driving on I-10 west in a Honda Civic near Mesa.
Police say Britney Torres was driving the wrong way on I-10 and struck Chico Jr's vehicle head on.
Torres was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and Chico Jr. died from his injuries from the collision.
The DWI Task Force was called to assist in the investigation.
UPDATE (11:36 a.m.): The El Paso Fire Department has confirmed that two other people were injured in the crash but only one was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
UPDATE (8:35 a.m.): One person has been declared dead according to EPPD.
UPDATE (7:49 a.m.): All lanes are now reopen, according to EPPD.
UPDATE: As of 6:00 a.m., Special Traffic Investigators, El Paso Fire and the medical examiner's office have left the scene. El Paso Police and TxDOT remain there and two tow trucks arrived.
ABC-7 is seeing a second crashed car on the scene, being mounted onto a tow truck.
A white sheet is seen covering the driver's side door of one of the cars, which normally indicates a fatality. STI officials were also looking around the ground.
ABC-7 is still working to learn more on the conditions of the driver and if anyone else was in the crashed car, as well as confirm any fatalities.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- All lanes on I-10 West at Mesa are closed due to a crash, according to El Paso Police. The department reported the crash on X at 10:58 p.m. Tuesday night.
There is no clearing time yet. Thru traffic should use Exit 13 at Sunland Park, police said.
Some of our ABC-7 crew has been stuck on the highway for more than two hours since police reported the crash. Our crew said they are currently waiting on the highway with their cars off to save battery.
This is a developing story.
