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An El Paso resident was taken into custody nearly nine months following a hit-and-run incident that resulted in fatal injuries to a police officer’s mother and serious injuries to the officer himself. Richard Nunez, age 21, was arrested on August 5 and faces multiple charges linked to the tragic crash that occurred on December 16, 2023.
The incident took place on Interstate 10 East near Porfirio Diaz Street, where Nunez’s actions are alleged to have caused the death of 38-year-old Perla Vasquez and injuries to Socorro police officer Saul Sigala Jr. and his younger brother, Donovan Sigala. According to police reports, Nunez has been charged with one count of collision involving death and two counts of collision involving serious bodily injuries. He is currently being held at the El Paso County Jail Annex with a bond set at $100,000 as of August 10, with no legal representation listed in court records.
Details Surrounding the Fatal Incident
On the evening of December 16, Vasquez and her sons were in a Dodge Charger that experienced a flat tire. The family pulled over to the center median of I-10 East around 7:35 p.m. to switch out the tire. While one of her sons worked on the vehicle, Vasquez and her other children attempted to alert oncoming traffic to their situation and encourage them to slow down.
According to witnesses, an Acura driven by a 55-year-old woman reduced its speed to assist with safety for the family. However, Nunez’s Ford Mustang swerved and collided with the Charger, impacting Vasquez, Saul, and Donovan Sigala. Although Daimien Sigala and Aylin Jauregui, who were also present, sustained no injuries, the crash had severe consequences for the others involved.
Following the collision, Nunez continued driving before his Mustang broke down on the roadside. Authorities report that he left the scene on foot, abandoning the vehicle. Tragically, Vasquez was pronounced dead at the crash site, while Saul and Donovan were transported to University Medical Center of El Paso for treatment of their leg injuries; further updates on their conditions have not been disclosed.
Authorities have not disclosed how they identified Nunez as the driver of the Mustang involved in the incident.
In the wake of this fatal accident, the Socorro Police Department initiated a GoFundMe campaign to financially support the Sigala family. The campaign has successfully raised over $19,900 and remains open for donations at gofund.me/ea0a7aee.
Source
www.yahoo.com