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Romando Tapia Flores

Age :

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 04/24/2022

Location : Interstate 35 near Exit 137/Kinney Road

City : Somerset area

County : Bexar

State : Texas

Agency : Medina County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Sgt. Ricardo Delgado; other deputies Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during pursuit initiated after a Medina County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a Chevrolet pickup for a lane violation on Interstate 35.
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NARRATIVE:
On 04/24/2022, Romando Tapia Flores was critically injured while riding in a Chevrolet pickup driven by Joseph Alex Hernandez during a Medina County Sheriff’s Office pursuit that began in Medina County and ended with a rollover crash in Bexar County. Tapia Flores subsequently died from his injuries.
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Deputy Ricardo Delgado attempted to stop the pickup on Interstate 35 for a lane violation near Exit 125. Hernandez initially pulled over, but after one passenger got out and ran, Hernandez drove away and deputies pursued him toward San Antonio.
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The pursuit covered approximately 12 miles and seven minutes, with Hernandez reaching approximately 90 to 100 mph. During the pursuit he repeatedly crossed the grassy median between the highway and access road and ran a red light. A supervisor eventually instructed deputies to fall back and monitor the pickup.
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Near Exit 137 in Bexar County, a rear tire failed. Hernandez lost control and the pickup struck a grassy berm and rolled multiple times, ejecting most of its occupants. Three passengers were airlifted and the others were transported by ambulance.
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Tapia Flores and fellow passenger Manuel de Jesus Aparicio Trejo died at hospitals from their injuries in the days following the crash. Both men were from Mexico.
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Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants resulting in death and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On 04/04/2024, he was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Medina County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ricardo Delgado, then a patrol deputy, testified in the later federal case that he initiated the traffic stop and participated in the pursuit.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/austin-man-sentenced-16-years-prison-smuggling-attempt-resulted-migrant-deaths
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/austin-man-gets-16-years-deadly-police-chase-19385664.php
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/04/04/man-sentenced-to-16-years-in-federal-prison-for-fatal-migrant-smuggling-attempt-in-medina-county/