El Paso, Texas – The community is mourning the loss of Emmanuel Torres, a 34-year-old El Paso resident who tragically died in a fatal double hit-and-run accident on Tuesday night, September 24, 2024.
Torres was crossing Alameda Avenue near the 7200 block around 7:30 p.m. when he was struck by two vehicles.
The first vehicle, a pickup truck, knocked him to the ground, and the driver remained at the scene.
However, moments later, a second pickup truck ran over Torres and fled the scene without stopping to help, leaving him to die on the roadway.
Despite the quick response of emergency personnel, Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many expressing their disbelief over the tragic circumstances and the second driver’s failure to stop.
The El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations Unit is actively working to identify the driver of the second vehicle.
Authorities are analyzing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Sgt. Robert Gomez, spokesperson for the El Paso Police, stated, “It’s critical that drivers remain at the scene when accidents like this happen.
Leaving the scene makes the situation far worse for everyone involved.”
Community members have set up a makeshift memorial at the accident site, with flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages left in honor of Torres.
A family friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared, “Emmanuel was someone you could count on, always ready to lend a helping hand.
The fact that someone left him there after hitting him is just heartbreaking. We need justice for him.”
Torres’ death has raised concerns about pedestrian safety on Alameda Avenue, a busy street known for heavy traffic.
Local resident Maria Vasquez, who lives near the accident site, voiced her concerns: “This part of Alameda is especially dangerous at night.
Drivers speed through, and it’s hard for people to cross safely. More needs to be done to protect pedestrians like Emmanuel.”
A vigil in Torres’ honor is planned for later this week, allowing family, friends, and community members to come together to remember his kind-hearted nature and demand justice.
The police urge anyone with information to contact the El Paso Police Department or Crime Stoppers of El Paso.
The community hopes for accountability and justice in the wake of this senseless tragedy.