Humberto Reyes Jr. Killed in Car Accident on Americas Ave in El Paso, TX
El Paso, TX — May 10, 2022, 53-year-old Humberto Reyes Jr. was fatally injured by a vehicle while standing on Americas Avenue in El Paso.
According to reports the incident happened around 10:00 p.m. on Americas Avenue near Del Valle High School. Preliminary investigation suggests a Pontiac Grand Am driven by 55-year-old Aida Reyes stalled and stopped on the northbound roadway. Reyes, a passenger in the vehicle, stepped out and was standing behind the car when a Hyundai Elantra approached and hit him.
Reyes was transported to an area hospital where died of his injuries on June 6. Aida Reyes and the Hyundai driver, 22-year-old Leonel Bravo Jr., were not reported as injured.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Humberto Reyes Jr. Accident on Americas Ave in El Paso
Reports suggest the victim was standing behind a stalled vehicle when another car hit him. That leads to a lot of questions about exactly how and why that happened, and whether the collision could reasonably have been avoided.
People don't always consider the nitty-gritty details of crashes like this, seeing just that a car hit a man and thinking that driver is wholly at fault. In many cases that's ultimately found to be true--driver inattention, for instance, is behind lots of similar accidents. However, in many others a careful investigation finds there were other circumstances that had to be considered.
For example: How well-lit is that area at night? Were the stalled car's lights still on? What about the striking driver's headlights? How visible was the victim behind the car, and at what distance would a reasonably prudent driver have seen him? Was he directly behind the vehicle, or was he near one side or the other? Where was the striking driver before arriving at the scene, and what did he do there? Is it possible he was impaired at the time?
Those are just a few of the many outstanding questions that investigators may or may not have properly addressed in the month or so since this terrible incident occurred. News reports may just not reflect all the developments of the case, or--unfortunately--some details may have been overlooked or ignored once the basic facts were found. I hope for the sake of the victim's loved ones that proper attention is paid and they get all the answers and help they deserve.
