In a somber turn of events, the city's count of traffic-related fatalities has increased to 49 this year, following the death of Mr. Pedraza who succumbed to his injuries sustained in a collision that took place last month. According to the City of El Paso, on the 18th of August, Mr. Pedraza was riding his scooter northbound on the 1700 block of Joe Battle when the tragic accident occurred around 12:57 pm.
Investigations revealed that as he approached the intersection at New World, Mrs. Duran, driving eastward on New World, made a turn and collided with Mr. Pedraza as he was crossing in an unmarked crosswalk, Mr. Pedraza was immediately transported to the hospital with multiple injuries, investigators from the Special Traffic Investigations unit have been involved in the case since. In the wake of the accident, on September 27, the Medical Examiner’s Office informed the investigators of Mr. Pedraza's passing on September 10, in a long-term care facility, having never recovered from the injuries sustained in the crash.
It has been determined by authorities that the collision was caused by Mrs. Duran's failure to yield the right of way, stated the police report as per the City of El Paso. This incident brings this year's count to 49 fatalities, a slight decrease from the 56 reported at the same time last year, even as the Special Traffic Investigators continue to delve deeper into the nuances of the case.
