Harlingen Police Department on Monday have identified and charged a man accused of driving a car that killed a 5-year-old girl and injured her 20-year-old sister.
Jose Ricardo Trujillo, a 42-year-old Harlingen area man, was arraigned on charges of accident involving death and accident involving serious bodily injury, according to police. His bond is set at $350,000 on both felonies.
Police say Trujillo struck Leslie Cassie Huerta and her little sister Angelina Huerta Sunday morning at the intersection of Stuart Place Road and the frontage road with a gray 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
“The driver of the vehicle fled from the crash scene failing to stop and render aid,” Harlingen Police Department said in a press release.
Trujillo was arrested two hours later at a home in Primera.
Angelina later died of her injuries and Leslie remains hospitalized, according to police.
Harlingen police confirmed the older sister was hit while selling newspapers.
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Sunday 9:36 p.m.
HARLINGEN – A 5-year-old girl is dead and her 20-year-old sister remains hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle Sunday morning at the intersection of Stuart Place Road and Interstate 2 Westbound Frontage Road.
The driver of a gray 2012 Hyundai Elantra, who fled from the crash scene failing to stop and render aid, was apprehended at 11 a.m. at a residence in Primera by the Primera Police Department, according to a Harlingen police press release.
The identity of the driver is being withheld, pending arraignment.
Officers responded to the scene of at approximately 9:17 a.m. The victims were transported to a local hospital, where the child died from her injuries.
The woman was hit while selling newspapers, Harlingen police confirmed.
“Faced with this devastating news, our hearts go out to the family of the victims of this morning’s tragedy, especially in regards to the loss of a child,” said Stephan Wingert, regional vice president of AIM Media Texas. “We don’t have details beyond what the police know at this point. Because our newspaper sales are handled by an independently contracted outside service, the injured woman is not an employee of ours and no further information has been provided to us yet.”
The Harlingen Police Department Highway Enforcement Unit and Major Crimes Unit remained at the scene Sunday afternoon.
The names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
