Driver dies, 2 others hurt as SUVs collide in northeast El Paso

UPDATE, June 28: An driver involved in a collision in which his SUV ended up wrapped around a utility pole has died of his injuries, police said Monday.

60–year-old Kenith Earl Smith of El Paso was the city's 33rd traffic death of the year, compared to 44 fatalities at this same time a year ago. He died at University Medical Center, where he was taken with serious injuries following the northeast El Paso crash on Sunday.

Polcie said Smith's SUV and another SUV were involved in a "T-bone type collision" at the intersection of Gateway North Boulevard and Diana Drive. The crash impact caused Smith's "vehicle to spin out, collide into and wrap around a traffic light pole," police wrote in an incident report, and he had to be extricated from his SUV by firefighters.

Investigators indicated they believe one of the two SUVs ran a red light to trigger the crash, but they were still trying to determine which driver was at fault.

Smith's wife and passenger, 57–year-old Sandra Smith also suffered serious crash injuries and remained hospitalized Monday at UMC in stable condition.

The driver of the other SUV, 30–year-old Catherine Ann Polanco of El Paso, had minor injuries. Police said she had two children in her vehicle, ages 3 and 11, but neither was hurt.

ORIGINAL REPORT, June 27: EL PASO,Texas -- Two motorists were injured, one seriously, in a collision involving two SUVs Sunday afternoon in northeast El Paso.

One of the vehicles ended up wrapped around a pole from the crash at Gateway North Boulevard and Diana Drive.

Traffic investigators were summoned to the scene just after 1:30 p.m.

Authorities said two crash victims were taken to local hospitals; one was listed in serious condition while the other suffered relatively minor injuries.

There was no immediate word as to what led up to the crash.

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