Update (January 28, 2026): Authorities said the Silverado driver has been charged with intoxication manslaughter for allegedly causing this accident by running a red light. He admitted to drinking six beers before the crash, according to authorities.

Update (January 20, 2026): Authorities have identified the driver of the Chevrolet Camaro involved in this accident as Nicholas Jasay Ramirez, 19. He was seriously injured in the crash.

Update (January 6, 2026): Authorities have identified the person killed in this accident as 18-year-old El Paso resident Angelique Diaz De Leon. She was a passenger in the Camaro involved in the crash.

El Paso, TX — January 1, 2026, one person was killed in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 2 a.m. on Gateway North Boulevard/U.S. Route 54.

Authorities said a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro collided at the intersection with Sean Haggerty Drive.

One person, whose name has not been made public yet, died in the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the El Paso County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Moments like these remind us how quickly everything can change. A quiet drive becomes something far more serious, and while the public often waits for simple answers, those answers rarely come without deeper questions.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? With two vehicles colliding at an intersection in the early morning hours, there’s a lot investigators need to unpack. The timing alone, around 2 a.m., raises questions about visibility, alertnes, and vehicle speed, but whether those factors were looked into remains unclear. Effective crash investigations don’t stop at surface observations; they demand detailed reconstructions, analysis of tire marks, vehicle resting positions and careful mapping of the scene. Hopefully, trained reconstructionists were brought in to lead that effort, not just standard patrol officers with limited tools. When that doesn’t happen, important nuances can slip through the cracks.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? In any serious collision, it’s worth asking whether every involved vehicle was functioning as it should. Brake problems, steering malfunctions or even modern sensor issues can play a part in collisions that might otherwise seem straightforward. Without a hands-on mechanical inspection after a crash, it’s hard to rule those out. Unfortunately, these kinds of checks aren’t always routine unless someone specifically calls for them.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? When information is this limited, digital data may hold the clearest picture of what actually happened. Most newer vehicles carry detailed logs of driver inputs — like acceleration, braking and steering — that can be pulled from onboard systems. Phone records, GPS data and nearby traffic cameras might also help determine how events unfolded before impact. But gathering and preserving that kind of evidence requires deliberate action and urgency, especially in the early stages of an investigation.

When someone dies in a crash without clear answers, it’s not just about what happened, but how thoroughly we’re willing to look into it. The truth often hides in the details that don't make the headlines.

Key Takeaways:

• Not all crash investigations get the expert attention they deserve.
• Mechanical issues might not show up unless someone looks closely.
• Electronic data from vehicles and devices can be the key to understanding what really happened.