An alleged drunken driver almost hit a sheriff’s deputy investigating a fatal hit-and-run collision after the DWI suspect drove through a roadblock and crashed into a patrol vehicle, authorities said.
Deputies investigating a fatal motorcycle hit-and-run crash at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, placed a patrol vehicle to block the road at intersection of Montana Avenue and Krag Street in the Montana Vista area, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras said in a news release.
The patrol unit had its emergency lights on as it blocked both eastbound lanes of Montana Avenue, Contreras said.
Amado Vasquez Burrola, 53, “despite the clearly marked police barricade,” drove past the closure and crashed into the patrol vehicle, the news release states.
A deputy was standing near the patrol vehicle and had to “quickly run out of the way to avoid being struck,” the news release states.
Vasquez Burrola was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated with an open alcohol container and possession of marijuana under two ounces. He was booked into the El Paso County Jail on Monday, May 25, on a bond totaling $10,100. He remains jailed as of Thursday, May 28, jail logs show.
No attorney is named in court records for Vasquez Burrola.
“Drinking and driving puts everyone at risk, including the deputies out there working to keep our roads safe,” El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said in a statement. “Crashing into patrol units not only endangers lives, but also impacts our ability to serve the community at a time when law enforcement agencies are already dealing with staffing and equipment shortages. There is absolutely no excuse for driving intoxicated.”
Driver arrested in motorcycle hit-and-run
The fatal hit-and-run crash involving a motorcycle happened about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the intersection of Montana Avenue and Buntline Drive.
Fernando Villa, 33, died at a hospital from injuries suffered in the collision, Contreras said in a separate news release about the crash.
Jose Orlando Ruiz Rodriguez, 18, was arrested on suspicion of collision involving death and tampering with evidence, the news release states.
Ruiz was booked into the El Paso County Jail on Monday, May 25, on a bond totaling $110,000. He remains jailed as of Thursday, May 28, jail logs show. No attorney is listed in court records for Ruiz.
The hit-and-run crash remains under investigation, Contreras said.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Alleged El Paso drunken driver crashes into sheriff’s patrol vehicle
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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