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Gabriel Salas Sifuentes

Age : 29

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 06/29/2022

Location : Abram Road north of 8 Mile Line

City : La Joya

County : Hidalgo

State : Texas

Agency : La Joya Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during a pursuit initiated when La Joya police attempted to stop a green Ford Expedition during an investigation into suspected human smuggling. The driver continued away from police and fled south on FM 2221 before turning onto Abram Road.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/29/2022, 29-year-old Gabriel Salas Sifuentes of Mexico was killed when a green Ford Expedition crashed during a La Joya Police Department pursuit in Hidalgo County.
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At approximately 7:50 a.m., La Joya police attempted to stop the Ford Expedition near FM 2221 during an investigation into suspected human smuggling. The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Alexis Pino Hernandez of Mexico, continued away from police.
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Pino Hernandez turned from FM 2221 onto Abram Road while continuing to evade law enforcement. On Abram Road north of 8 Mile Line, he lost control of the Expedition and the vehicle rolled over.
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All four occupants were ejected from the Expedition. Salas Sifuentes suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Three other occupants were transported to DHR Health in critical condition.
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The other occupants were 31-year-old Jose Ismael Campos Rodriguez of Mexico, 20-year-old Jennifer Vasquez of Honduras and driver Alexis Pino Hernandez. Campos Rodriguez died at the hospital several hours after the crash. Vasquez remained hospitalized in intensive care and underwent surgery but subsequently died from her injuries. Pino Hernandez was the sole survivor.
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Pino Hernandez was arrested after his release from the hospital. Following Vasquez's death, he faced three counts of felony murder, three counts of evading arrest resulting in death and three counts of smuggling of persons causing death.
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A second man, Ivan Rios, was subsequently arrested in connection with the human-smuggling operation and charged with three counts of murder and three counts of human smuggling.
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Texas Department of Public Safety troopers assisted La Joya police with reconstruction of the fatal crash.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The La Joya Police Department did not publicly identify the officer who initiated the attempted stop and pursuit in the sources located. La Joya Police Sgt. Manuel Casas subsequently provided information about the investigation, arrests and deaths. Texas DPS personnel assisted with crash reconstruction.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.krgv.com/news/dps-two-dead-two-others-hospitalized-in-critical-condition-after-rollover-crash-north-of-palmview/
https://www.krgv.com/news/men-killed-in-hidalgo-county-rollover-crash-identified-as-mexican-nationals/
https://www.krgv.com/news/la-joya-police-arrest-made-in-fatal-june-rollover-crash/
https://www.krgv.com/news/la-joya-police-third-person-dies-in-human-smuggling-crash-driver-facing-additional-charges/
https://www.krgv.com/videos/la-joya-police-second-arrest-made-in-connection-to-deadly-migrant-crash-in-la-joya/