Step.- A 22-year-old man became the first road casualty of 2023 in El Paso on Wednesday afternoon.
At around 5:32 p.m., Luis Pedro Garcia, 46, was driving his 2012 Dodge Caravan down Aurora Avenue, approaching the intersection of Alabama Street. He was carrying Montana Joe Stevens as a passenger.
At the same time, Paul Eli Ferris, 40, was driving a 2005 Ford Taurus and Andrea Baca, 58, was driving a 2017 Ford Fusion; both heading north through Alabama.
Garcia ran a stop sign and collided with the Ford Taurus, causing debris to strike the Ford Fusion. The Caravan went on an uncontrolled trajectory into a parking lot, rolling from one end to the other, striking four parked vehicles without passengers before coming to a stop on a rock wall.
Both Garcia and Montana were taken to a hospital by emergency services, but Montana died at the hospital.
Garcia suffered serious injuries and was still hospitalized Thursday afternoon.
The accident is under investigation and speed and alcohol are suspected as contributing factors.
Ferris was transported to the hospital for chest pain. This was the first traffic fatality in the city this year, compared to one the year before.