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Inset left: Vivian Rose Padilla (City of El Paso). Inset right: David Carmine O”Connor (Mt. Carmel Funeral Home). Background: The 4600 block of Pershing Street in El Paso, Texas (Google Maps).
Roughly two months following the tragic hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a TSA worker, a woman has been apprehended in connection with the case, Texas law enforcement reports.
Authorities in El Paso disclosed that 19-year-old Vivian Padilla faces charges for a fatal collision. The deadly event took place in the early hours of September 7, as detailed in an official announcement released this week.
The victim, 52-year-old David O’Connor, was traveling on an electric-assisted bicycle around 1:30 a.m. when he was struck from behind by a 2017 Kia Soul, according to city officials. The driver failed to stop and render aid, choosing instead to flee the scene.
O’Connor was equipped with a reflective vest and his bicycle was outfitted with lights, as noted in an arrest affidavit shared by KFOX, a local Fox affiliate. Upon arrival, traffic investigators discovered O’Connor at the 4600 block of Pershing Street in El Paso, having been thrown from his bike.
Sadly, O’Connor succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at the scene.
It was reportedly Padilla’s father who turned her in to authorities. Twelve hours after the crash, the father and daughter walked into the El Paso Police Department headquarters, with the older man telling officers, “She’s the one that hit that person yesterday,” per KFOX.
Damage to Padilla’s vehicle is said to have perfectly matched the broken car parts at the site of the crash, and there were bloodstains inside and outside the vehicle. The suspect is believed to have been on her phone during and after the crash.
Padilla was placed in the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond. As of Thursday, she was no longer listed as being in the jail.
O’Connor was a TSA employee at El Paso International Airport, per his obituary. He is remembered as having had a “deep love for nature and adventure,” as well as “caring for his beloved pet turtle.” He is survived by his parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews.