EL PASO, Texas — Jesus Chico Jr. was only 25, and by Tuesday night, his life was cut short on a stretch of Interstate 10 that many drivers use without a second thought. Police say Chico was driving westbound near Mesa when a wrong-way vehicle barreled straight toward him, leaving no time to escape.
Investigators with the Special Traffic Investigations Unit say the crash unfolded when Britney Torres drove a 2017 Ford Mustang the wrong direction on I-10 West. Her car slammed head-on into Chico’s 2009 Honda Civic. The impact was devastating and immediate.
Chico suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers confirmed that Torres survived the crash with minor injuries. Authorities have not released further details about her medical condition as the investigation continues.
Because of the circumstances, the El Paso Police Department’s DWI Task Force has stepped in to assist. Officials have not said whether impairment played a role, but the involvement of the task force signals serious concerns as they piece together what led to the deadly collision.
This crash marks the fifth traffic death in El Paso so far this year. That number mirrors where the city stood at the same point last year. Police also noted a troubling pattern: three wrong-way crashes were reported across the Borderland in just this week alone.
City leaders have already been sounding the alarm. Just weeks ago, El Paso officials held a press conference focused on drunk driving and roadway safety, promising stronger enforcement and smarter infrastructure to prevent tragedies like this one.
The Texas Department of Transportation says wrong-way driver countermeasures are already in place across the El Paso District. These include signs and pavement markings installed on freeway off-ramps to meet TxDOT standards.
TxDOT also points to newer technology now being rolled out. Reflective pavement arrows, flashing LED wrong-way signs, and thermal sensors powered by artificial intelligence are part of a growing effort to detect and stop drivers before they enter highways going the wrong way.
For now, the investigation remains open, and many questions remain unanswered. What is clear is that another family in El Paso is grieving, and another life was lost on a road meant to carry people safely home.
