Miguel Angel Ortiz Killed in Car Accident in El Paso, TX
El Paso, TX -- June 6, 2022, Miguel Angel Ortiz sustained ultimately fatal injuries due to an accident where Ortiz's vehicle crashed.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 1:12 a.m. along I-10 near Eastlake. In their reports, officials said that 26-year-old Miguel Angel Ortiz was in a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-10. Somehow, the vehicle crashed into a construction zone. Ortiz had critical injuries, and sources say Ortiz succumbed to his injuries on June 10. The exact cause of the crash remains unconfirmed at this time.
Commentary on Miguel Angel Ortiz Car Accident in El Paso
UPDATE (August 25, 2022): In recent reports, authorities included a .146 BAC test result. Just to be clear, I wouldn't take back what I discussed below in terms of considering all possible factors here. But with a detail like that, I want to reemphasize the importance of considering something like dram shop after a crash like this. Put simply, there could be a local establishment that broke the law and contributed to this man's tragic death. If that happened here, is that something they should just get away with, or would the family deserve an opportunity to see them face appropriate consequences? It's only more important now to make sure investigations are thorough here.
ORIGINAL: Police mentioned speed as a possible factor here, and it wouldn't surprise me if that were true. But my hope is that investigators are considering other possibilities. That's not just to say they should also look into other common possible factors, like cell phone usage or drunk driving. Those, too, are important to consider--especially considering how often it turns out there's an alcohol provider liable for the crash under dram shop law because they illegally over-served the victim. But what about less common factors?
Mechanical issues, road hazards, poor road conditions, tire blowouts, defects, other reckless drivers that left the scene, a medical emergency--common or not, it's important folks know they're getting the whole story. Police reports alone often aren't thorough enough to get all those facts, which is why it's often necessary to ensure there are thorough independent investigations. Are steps being taken here to get all the facts?
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