New details on a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist in McAllen on Tuesday revealed the victim’s brother witnessed the traumatic event.
Erick Hernandez and his brother, Oscar Fernando Hernandez, 29, who was riding a black 2008 Yamaha motorcycle, were riding separately down South 10th Street around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the probable cause affidavits.
The brothers were heading south and passed through the underpass before heading to the intersection with the frontage road south of the highway. Erick was on the outside lane slightly behind Oscar who was riding on the inside lane in front of Erick.
As Oscar entered the intersection, a 2017 gray Ford Explorer driven by Joel Bello Galindo, 28, from Mission, who was traveling with his wife, Cassandra Saenz, struck Oscar Hernandez with such force he was knocked off of his motorcycle and landed in the southeastern part of the intersection.
McAllen Police officers who arrived at the scene around 7:23 p.m. found Erick weeping next to the body of his unconscious brother facing up with a pool of blood behind his head. First responders were unable to detect a pulse. Erick was too grief-stricken to offer an immediate statement, but did so later.
The airbags were deployed and dents on the bumper and hood of the Ford Explorer were observed by the officers.
Statements from witnesses gathered that evening, including an off-duty police officer from La Grulla, indicated Galindo caused the crash after running a red light.
However, Galindo and his wife both told the police officers the light was still yellow when they sped through the intersection. He said he was going too fast that if he were to suddenly stop someone could have hit him from behind, according to the probable cause affidavit. Galindo then heard a loud noise that he interpreted to be a flat tire before he lost control of the vehicle.
The officer taking down the report concluded Galindo ran the red light after witness statements pointed to the southbound traffic moving on the green light and the halted traffic observing a red light on the frontage road.
A justice of the peace declared the time of death as 7:56 and ordered an autopsy for Oscar Fernando Hernandez.
Galindo was charged with negligent homicide and arrested. He made a first appearance at the McAllen Municipal Court on Wednesday and received a $75,000 bond on the charge.
