Executive Summary
- Natanael Mejia, 33, of El Paso, died following a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 10.
- The crash occurred Thursday night after Mejia’s pickup truck stopped in a travel lane and was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler.
- According to investigators, the pickup truck was reportedly weaving before it came to a halt.
- The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
An El Paso man has died from injuries sustained after his pickup truck was struck by an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10, authorities confirmed Saturday. The incident occurred late Thursday night when the man’s vehicle reportedly came to a stop in a travel lane for unknown reasons.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 33-year-old Natanael Mejia. The collision took place at approximately 11:08 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, on I-10 westbound near mile marker 0. According to the preliminary investigation, Mejia’s Chevrolet pickup truck had been seen weaving before it came to a complete stop in the number two lane.
An approaching 18-wheeler was unable to avoid the stationary vehicle and struck it from the rear. Mejia was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was later pronounced deceased. His next of kin have been notified.
The Anthony Police Department initially responded to the scene, but due to the severity of the crash, the investigation was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Special Traffic Investigators. The inquiry into why the pickup truck stopped in the active lane of traffic is ongoing.