Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Noe Rolando Hernandez-Lopez
Age : 32
Gender : Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 03/31/2022
Location : Ranch Road 3130 approximately 13 miles east of Sonora
City : Sonora area
County : Sutton
State : Texas
Agency : Sonora Police Department
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
REASON FOR CHASE: Sonora police initiated the pursuit after attempting to stop the Chevrolet Malibu in which Hernandez-Lopez was a passenger for an alleged traffic violation. The specific traffic violation was not publicly disclosed.
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NARRATIVE:
On 03/31/2022, 32-year-old Noe Rolando Hernandez-Lopez was killed when the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu in which he was a passenger crashed during a Sonora Police Department pursuit on Ranch Road 3130 in Sutton County, approximately 13 miles east of Sonora.
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The pursuit began on streets in Sonora after police attempted to stop the Malibu for an alleged traffic violation. The driver continued away from police and traveled out of Sonora onto Ranch Road 3130. Texas Department of Public Safety reporting stated that the vehicle reached speeds exceeding 100 mph on a roadway where the posted speed limit was 55 mph. Police also reported that the vehicle's headlights were turned off during the pursuit.
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At approximately 2:24 a.m., while the police pursuit was continuing, the Malibu approached a curve on Ranch Road 3130 approximately 13 miles east of Sonora. The driver lost control, and the vehicle entered a ditch on the westbound side of the roadway, crashed through a fence, struck multiple trees and rolled. Hernandez-Lopez and another passenger were ejected from the vehicle.
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Hernandez-Lopez died from his injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead by Sutton County Justice of the Peace Harris. Two other passengers survived and were transported to Shannon Medical Center for treatment. The 17-year-old driver also survived and was transported to Shannon Medical Center.
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Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers Daniel Young of the Junction sector and Jared Poener of the Eden sector investigated the fatal crash, with assistance from the Sonora Police Department. Young and Poener were identified as crash investigators, not as the Sonora officers who initiated or participated in the pursuit.
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The available public reporting does not provide the length or duration of the pursuit, identify the alleged traffic violation that prompted the attempted stop, or identify the Sonora police officers who made the decision to initiate and continue the pursuit.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Sonora Police Department did not publicly identify the officer who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit or the other officer(s) who participated in the pursuit in the sources located.
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