UPDATE (March 27, 2025): Recent reports have been released which identify the pedestrian who lost his life due to this hit-and-run accident as 52-year-old Jesus Fernando Perez. He was apparently attempting to cross North Loop in order to get to a bus stop at the time of the accident, according to those reports. No additional details are currently available. Investigations remain ongoing.

El Paso, TX — March 21, 2025, a man was killed following a pedestrian versus hit-and-run car accident shortly before 8:45 p.m. along North Loop Drive.

According to authorities, the accident took place in the vicinity of the North Loop Drive and Warnock Way intersection.

Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a 52-year-old man who had been on foot in the area was struck by a motor vehicle. The vehicle allegedly fled the scene, the person(s) inside failing to stop and render aid of any sort to the victim. The man reportedly sustained critical injuries due to the collision and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional information pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—is not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary

When I see a report like this, my primary concern is whether the victim’s loved ones will get the answers—and the justice—they deserve. A hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian isn’t just a legal matter; it’s a devastating breach of the basic responsibility every driver has to those they share the road with. Even when the driver is eventually located, that alone doesn’t provide the full story. That’s why it’s so important to begin with three key questions.

The first question is whether authorities have thoroughly investigated the crash scene. A proper investigation should establish not just where the collision occurred, but also whether the area was adequately lit, whether there were crosswalks or traffic signals in place, and whether the pedestrian was clearly visible to oncoming traffic. It’s important to reconstruct not just the moment of impact but the circumstances leading up to it. Did nearby businesses or residences have surveillance footage that captured the incident? Were there any witnesses who saw what happened or the vehicle as it fled?

The second question is whether there’s been any consideration of a possible vehicle defect—particularly one that might explain why the driver didn’t stop. In most hit-and-run cases, the assumption is that the driver panicked or was fleeing for other reasons, but it's worth asking whether the vehicle's lighting or braking systems were working properly. Could the driver have experienced a mechanical failure that contributed to the crash or made them unaware of the collision? While it may not excuse leaving the scene, it could change how we understand the chain of events.

Lastly, has all relevant electronic data been collected? Surveillance footage is key in these cases, especially in identifying a fleeing vehicle. But it’s not the only data that matters. If and when a suspect vehicle is found, retrieving crash data from its onboard systems—such as event data recorders—can reveal whether the driver attempted to brake, what speed they were traveling, and how they reacted in the moments before impact. Additionally, cellphone records or GPS data could be instrumental in tracing the vehicle’s movements.

At the end of the day, answering these questions could be essential to understanding what really happened and why. A thorough examination of all three of these issues—including the quality of police investigations, possible vehicle defects, and electronic data—is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by the crash receive the clarity they deserve.