Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run on Loop 375 in El Paso, TX
El Paso, TX -- November 23, 2021, a female pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit-and-run along Loop 375 (Cesar Chavez Highway) in El Paso.
Authorities say the incident happened shortly before 6:00 p.m. at 375 East and the Midway ramp in the Lower Valley. The circumstances of the collision aren't yet known, but reports indicate the victim was on foot in the area when she was fatally struck by a passing vehicle that left the scene without stopping.
Traffic investigators reported later that day they had located the hit-and-run vehicle, but did not say whether its driver was taken into custody.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Hit-and-Run on Loop 375 in El Paso
Reports don't seem to say whether police found the hit-and-run driver, but locating the vehicle is at least a very good start. It's typically a critical piece of evidence that often leads to an arrest once police follow its paper trail back to its owner. Aside from the occasional stolen vehicle, the registrant is usually the suspect or at least knows who they are and where to find them. Sometimes it can take a while, but often when they have substantive evidence to work with police are able to find the offender more quickly than when they start with less.
Once the suspect is apprehended, police can then see about why they fled after fatally injuring someone. Investigators typically find hit-and-run drivers leave the scene because they want to hide something from law enforcement, which may turn out to be the case here as well. Sometimes they want to hide illegal contraband like guns or drugs, while others know they have active arrest warrants and what it would mean if they were caught. Sometimes, of course, the driver in question is simply intoxicated and they don't want police to know. If impairment was involved, the matter becomes a little more complex as the source of the alcohol should be identified in case a local business violated dram shop law.
Before anyone can really know the specifics, though, police will have to catch the driver. With the vehicle in their possession, hopefully it's just a matter of time before someone either recognizes its description and puts two and two together OR authorities manage to trace it to the suspect one way or another. In the meantime, the best way to ensure this reaches a proper resolution is for the community to remain vigilant and police to stay committed. That means sharing any helpful information or developments between them and keeping eyes and ears open. It may take a little time, but I remain confident that if everyone cooperates that justice will be done.
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