Andrea Fernanda Soria Arrested in Fatal El Paso I-10 Crash
Andrea Fernanda Soria charged with intoxication manslaughter after March 17 crash on I-10 took 15-year-old Sophia Ramirez's life
Andrea Fernanda Soria, 22, was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with a deadly crash on Interstate 10 in East El Paso that killed Sophia Ramirez, 15, on March 17. Soria was booked into the El Paso County downtown jail on Friday. Her bond was set at $150,000, and she is now out on bond.
Investigators said Soria was driving a 2022 Ford Mustang eastbound on I-10 at a high rate of speed. The Mustang rear-ended a 2017 Ford Escape, also eastbound. This impact caused the crash.
Ramirez, a passenger in the Ford Escape, was ejected from the vehicle during the collision. She suffered life-threatening injuries and succumbed to them on March 19.
Police said the time taken for Soria's arrest was part of the ongoing investigative process.
Drunk driving continues to be a deadly problem across the United States, devastating families and communities. The tragic consequences of impaired driving leave lasting impacts on those left behind. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), more than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes every year. These preventable crashes highlight the severe consequences of impaired driving.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond emphasized the impact of such incidents, stating, "The grief of losing a family member in a crash is something that no one is ever prepared to handle." Bond added, "These cases are particularly heartbreaking because they are entirely preventable, underscoring the critical need for responsible driving."
National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica added, "When a family loses a loved one on the road, the world feels like it has come to a stop. Black box data is often the only way to know if a driver was braking in those final five seconds before the impact."
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Texas applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.
Bond noted that "When a driver is arrested for intoxication manslaughter, that criminal case typically moves first."