El Paso County, TX — August 9, 2025, Maria Escudo Loya and Mayrin Perez were killed in a car accident at about 2:15 p.m. on F.M. 3380/M.F. Aguilera Road.
Authorities said an eastbound 2018 Nissan Titan collided with a westbound 2013 Mazda CX-5 near Tornillo.
Mazda driver Maria Escudo Loya, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while passenger Mayrin Perez, 21, died at an area hospital, according to authorities.
The Nissan driver suffered minor injuries in the crash, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the El Paso County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
In the aftermath of any serious crash, it’s natural to look for answers that what happened, but also ensure nothing gets overlooked that might prevent future harm. Especially when lives are lost, it’s essential that the response goes beyond surface-level conclusions and asks the questions that really matter.
Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a head-on collision occurs on a rural road, there’s always a question of whether crash investigators dug deep enough. Did they conduct a full scene reconstruction? Were vehicle paths and pre-impact movements clearly established using tools like total station mapping or drone imagery? Or did they rely mostly on visible damage and driver accounts? The difference in outcomes between a thorough forensic review and a cursory inspection can be enormous. Not all departments have the same training or resources, so unless a specialized unit took over, critical elements could have been missed.
Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Two vehicles moving in opposite directions suddenly end up in a fatal crashs, so it’s fair to question whether both vehicles were functioning as they should have been. Steering or brake failure, electronic malfunctions or tire separation could easily shift one vehicle into another’s path. Mechanical issues aren’t always obvious from wreckage alone, and unless someone took the time to inspect each vehicle thoroughly, there’s no way to know whether a defect played a role.
Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Modern vehicles often carry vital digital clues from engine control modules that log speed, braking, steering input and seatbelt usage in the moments before impact. Add to that the potential for GPS logs, cell phone data and nearby camera footage, and investigators could build a timeline far more reliable than memory or guesswork. But retrieving that data requires intention and follow-through, and that doesn’t always happen in rural crashes with limited local tech support.
It’s not enough to know that a crash occurred. We need to know why, and whether anything was missed that could explain or even prevent it. That starts by refusing to accept the first impression as the final answer.
Key Takeaways:
- A full crash investigation should go beyond surface details and use advanced tools to map what happened.
- Mechanical failures can’t be ruled out without a close, hands-on inspection of both vehicles.
- Electronic data from the vehicles or nearby sources can tell the real story, if someone takes the time to get it.
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