A woman identified by police as Brissa Celestte Rodriguez died early Thursday after her car slammed into the back of a trailer and became wedged underneath on Artcraft Road at Westside Drive in El Paso’s Upper Valley. The collision was reported around 6:36 a.m., and all westbound lanes were shut down while officers and crews worked the scene.
Crash and police update
According to El Paso police, Rodriguez was driving at a high rate of speed when she rear-ended a flatbed trailer, causing her vehicle to become lodged beneath it. She later died from her injuries, KVIA reported. The station noted that the wreck is the city’s 19th traffic death so far in 2026, compared with 21 at the same point last year.
Traffic impact and investigation
Special Traffic Investigators responded after the 6:36 a.m. call and remained on scene as crews documented evidence and cleared the wreckage. Local TV coverage said all westbound lanes at Artcraft and Westside Drive were closed during the morning response, with KTSM describing the shutdown and the active investigation.
Why this stretch is being rebuilt
State Highway 178, known locally as Artcraft Road, is already in line for a major Texas Department of Transportation safety and interchange overhaul that includes planned grade separations at Westside Drive and Upper Valley Road to cut down on conflict points and improve truck traffic flow. TxDOT’s project page says the $243.7 million SH 178 improvements are intended to address rapid growth, freight movement, and safety issues along the Artcraft corridor.
Investigators have not said whether impairment or any other contributing factors played a role in the crash. The El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations unit remains in charge of the case, and officials say more details will be released as they become available.
