Caught on video: Speeding SUV runs red light causing crash with semi-truck, killing 3 in Lower Valley
UPDATE, Dec. 2: Investigators on Thursday said a speeding SUV that ran a red light was to blame for a collision with a semi-truck that resulted in the deaths of three people at a Lower Valley intersection the day prior. The crash was also caught on video obtained by ABC-7 that is viewable in the video player above.
Police confirmed all three fatalities involved those riding in the SUV and identified the victims as 69–year-old driver David Valles, 67-year-old passenger Elia DelaCruz Valles, and a 90-year-old man who was also a passenger - but whose name wasn't released.
Authorities said the driver of the broadsided truck, 59-year-old Daniel Barrio Baray of Midland, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The deaths were the 64th, 65th, and 66th traffic fatalities of the year in El Paso, according to police data. There had been a total of 65 traffic deaths last year at this same time.
ORIGINAL REPORT, Dec. 1: EL PASO, Texas -- Three people were dead following a traffic crash at an intersection in El Paso's Lower Valley on Wednesday afternoon.
Police traffic investigators were summoned to the scene at North Loop Drive and Lee Trevino Drive around 2:30 p.m. to determine what led up to the crash, which happened around 1:45 p.m.
The deadly collision involved a semi-truck and an SUV, according to police.
A police spokesman confirmed three fatalities from the collision and said all of the deceased were in the SUV; the driver of the truck wasn't seriously hurt.
Fire crews had to use the 'jaws of life' to remove two of the deceased from the SUV; the third victim was found outside the vehicle and didn't have to be extracted.
North Loop and Lee Trevino - in all directions - were closed due to the crash. As of 5:30 p.m., Texas Dept. of Transportation officials said they anticipated that closure to last four more hours.
Current traffic conditions are available by visiting kvia.com/traffic.
