An El Paso man was arrested nearly nine months after allegedly causing a hit-and-run crash involving multiple vehicles resulting in a Socorro police officer suffering serious injuries and the death of the officer’s mother, authorities said.
Richard Nunez, 21, was arrested on Aug. 5 on three charges in connection with the fatal Dec. 16, 2023, crash that killed 38-year-old Perla Vasquez and injured Socorro police officer Saul Sigala Jr. and his younger brother Donovan Sigala, on Interstate 10 East near Porfirio Diaz Street, El Paso police officials said.
Nunez, of the Lower Valley, is facing one count of collision involving death and two counts of collision involving serious bodily injuries. He is being held at the El Paso County Jail Annex on a bond totaling $100,000. He remains jailed as of Saturday, Aug. 10, jail logs show.
No attorney is listed for Nunez in court records..
Mother killed after being hit as family changed flat on I-10
Vasquez, Saul Sigala Jr., 21, and his younger brothers Daimien Sigala, 19, and Donovan Sigala, 15, along with Aylin Jauregui, 15, were in a Dodge Charger that got a flat tire about 7:35 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, on I-10 East, police said.
The Charger pulled over on the center median out of the way of traffic to change the tire. One of Vasquez’s son was changing the tire, while her and her other sons were trying to warn oncoming traffic to slow down.
An Acura driven by a 55-year-old woman saw the family warning traffic and “slowed down to make it safer for the pedestrians,” police said. A Ford Mustang allegedly driven by Nunez swerved left and entered the center median in an attempt to avoid crashing into the Acura.
Nunez hit the Dodge Charger, Vasquez, Saul Sigala Jr. and Donovan Sigala, officials said. Daimien Sigala and Aylin Jauregui were not injured in the wreck.
Nunez entered back onto the highway and struck a Volkswagen Jetta, officials said. The Jetta’s driver and passenger were not injured.
Nunez continued to drive east on I-10 when the car broke down on the side of the highway. He allegedly ran away, leaving the Mustang on the side of the road, officials said.
Vasquez died at the scene of the accident. Saul Sigala Jr. and Donovan Sigala suffered severe leg injuries and were taken to University Medical Center of El Paso for treatment. No further details have been released on the injuries or current condition of the brothers.
No information was released on how police identified Nunez as the driver of the Mustang.
The Socorro Police Department created a GoFundMe campaign shortly after the fatal crash to help raise money for the Sigala family. The campaign, which is still accepting donations, gathered more than $19,900. Donations can be made at gofund.me/ea0a7aee.
Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man arrested in hit-and-run that killed police officer’s mother
