The Step.- A devastating accident on Interstate 10 near the Arizona-New Mexico state line has left three people dead and several others injured. Among the victims is Emmanuel Lopez, a 17-year-old football player at Franklin High School, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and school officials.
The accident occurred last Saturday, September 14, around 5:10 p.m., when Lopez and a group of friends and family were traveling in an SUV to Phoenix to attend the NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. Tragedy struck when a semi-truck, which was heading east, suffered a tire explosion, crossed the median and collided head-on with the vehicle in which the victims were traveling.
In addition to Lopez, the two other people killed in the crash were identified as Christina Cecilia Sanchez, 34, of El Paso, and Juan Emilio Moreno, 26, of Sunland Park, New Mexico. All three victims died at the scene.
The impact was devastating. The truck caught fire after the crash, and rescuers quickly arrived on the scene. Three other people in the SUV were rushed to the hospital, one of them in critical condition, according to the Arizona DPS. The truck driver was also airlifted to a hospital, but no further details have been released so far about his condition or the identities of the survivors.
The El Paso school district has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims. At Franklin High School, teammates and friends of Emmanuel Lopez gathered on campus to pay tribute to the young man, remembered for his sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Arizona DPS is still investigating the exact circumstances of the crash. The truck’s tire explosion, which caused it to cross into oncoming lanes, will be a key focus of the investigation. Meanwhile, the El Paso community is mourning the loss of three lives on a trip that was meant to be an occasion for celebration and enjoyment of football.
Authorities are asking for patience while the investigation is carried out and reiterate their support for the families affected by this road tragedy.
#identified #shooting #death #Franklin #player
