A 21-year-old El Paso man died at the scene of a crash on westbound Interstate 10 east of Van Horn on Saturday, after a preliminary investigation found he failed to control his speed and steering before colliding with stopped traffic in a construction zone. Aaron Stephen Pepe was pronounced dead at the site of the wreck, which happened near Mile Marker 181, roughly 41 miles east of Van Horn.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred on I-10 west at Mile Marker 181. The agency's preliminary investigation determined that Pepe failed to control his speed and steering, leading to the collision.
The crash happened shortly before 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 near the mile marker in Jeff Davis County, as a vehicle was traveling westbound on I-10, according to a report from KTSM. That report said the driver, identified as 21-year-old Aaron Stephen, failed to control his speed, overcorrected the steering and began traveling north before the impact.
Conflicting Accounts of What Pepe Struck
Accounts of exactly what Pepe's vehicle struck differ between the two outlets. KVIA reported that he crashed into two other vehicles that were at a standstill due to construction, while the KTSM account said he crashed into a semi-truck that was stopped for the same reason. Both reports attribute their versions to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the crash, the station's report noted. DPS also said Pepe was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Investigation Remains Open
As of Tuesday, the investigation into the crash remained ongoing, with no further details available, per the same account. Authorities have not released additional information about the cause of the crash beyond the preliminary findings on speed and steering control.
