Mission woman dead after one-car wreck
MISSION — A one-car wreck in Mission killed an 18-year-old woman early Sunday morning.
At 12:26 a.m., a man driving a Chevrolet TrailBlazer lost control of the SUV on Expressway 83 near the South Conway Avenue overpass, according to information released by the Mission Police Department. The TrailBlazer smashed into a concrete wall, flipped over and skidded for about 100 yards.
The wreck killed Yadira Pena, who would have celebrated her 19th birthday on Valentine’s Day. A preliminary investigation indicated Pena wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
“If she had been wearing a safety belt, perhaps she would have survived this accident,” said police Corporal Manuel Casas, the department’s spokesman.
Three other passengers, including Pena’s twin sister, were admitted to McAllen Medical Center with serious injuries. Another passenger and the driver were unhurt, according to information provided by police.
The driver, a 23-year-old man, told police he smoked marijuana and drank a small amount of alcohol before the wreck. Police said he showed no signs of intoxication and a breath specimen came up negative for alcohol. He provided a blood sample for further testing.
On Monday, Mission police expect to arraign the driver on charges of criminally negligent homicide.
