An 18-year-old man, identified by authorities as Erick Holguin, died early Sunday after a single-vehicle rollover crash in far East El Paso. Police said a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro hit a concrete barrier and curb in the 12200 block of Montana Avenue, then rolled. A passenger from the car was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries, and officers from the Special Traffic Investigations unit are handling the case.
Investigation and local trend
The El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations unit is called in on deadly collisions and has already responded to multiple fatal crashes this year. In a recent news release, the City of El Paso reported the city’s 16th traffic fatality as of April 18. Investigators said they are continuing to work the Montana Avenue scene, documenting the area and collecting evidence.
Crash details and victim
According to KTSM 9 News, the Camaro was headed west on Montana at a high rate of speed when it struck the concrete barrier and curb, which caused the car to roll over. KTSM reported that the driver, 18-year-old Erick Holguin, died from his injuries and that a passenger was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Police told the station that the investigation remains active.
Speed and safety context
Speed turns up in a lot of deadly crashes. Federal data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that speeding was a contributing factor in roughly 29% of traffic deaths nationwide, which is why investigators so often zero in on how fast vehicles were moving and what the road conditions were after a wreck. That broader pattern is part of what local detectives will look at as they reconstruct what happened on Montana Avenue and review any available video or vehicle telemetry.
How to help
Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dash-cam or other video is asked to contact the El Paso Police Special Traffic Investigations unit at 915-212-4080 or the department’s non-emergency line at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can be shared with Crime Stoppers at 915-566-8477. The department is urging anyone with information related to this case to reach out so detectives can follow up, and the City of El Paso includes those contact details in its public releases.
