Crashes

Suspected Driver in Fatality Crash Arrested for Felony Hit and Run on ICE Hold, Victim Named

By Chelsea Reinhard cschmid, Aug 11, 2014
 

An 18-year-old male has been arrested for accident involving serious bodily injury/death in connection to a fatality crash that occurred on Marx and 19th Streets Saturday.

Tom Green County Jail records indicate that Bernardo Ponce-Ponce was booked into the jail on Sunday morning at 4:09 a.m. by San Angelo Police. Later on Sunday, an ICE hold was added to his record, indicating that Ponce-Ponce may be an illegal immigrant.

The crash occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and involved a maroon 2000 GMC Yukon and a silver 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. Both vehicles were reported to be transporting both a driver and a passenger, and all were reported to be injured. One of the occupants of the Grand Am died on Saturday night.

According to SAPD Public Information Officer Brian Robinson, Ponce-Ponce is suspected to be the driver of the Yukon. Following the crash on Saturday, Ponce-Ponce fled the scene on foot and was later arrested on the felony hit and run charge.

Police are currently trying to determine Ponce-Ponce’s legal status, Robinson said, hence why he has been placed on an ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) hold.

An accident involving serious bodily injury/death is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years confinement and an optional $10,000 fine.

Update 1:44 p.m.

Police have identified the deceased as 69-year-old Eulalio Canel Giron. Giron was driving the Pontiac on Saturday when the crash occurred. A 24-year-old male passenger, Armando Cervantes, was treated for serious incapacitating injuries he sustained in the crash.The passenger of the Yukon, 21-year-old Yecenia Sanchez, was treated for minor injuries sustained in the crash.

Preliminary investigation shows the Pontiac was stopped at the intersection of Marx and 19th  Street  northbound.   The Yukon was west bound on 19th Street. The driver of the Pontiac failed to yield right of way and entered the intersection colliding with the Yukon.

Several hours into the crash investigation, at approximately 2:00 a.m. on August 10, San Angelo Police Officers located the driver of the Yukon at a residence on the north side of town and identified him as Bernardo Ponce. Ponce was arrested for Failure to Stop and Render Aid Involving Serious Bodily Injury or Death and transported to the Tom Green County Jail.  This arrest was made without incident.  This is a felony of the second degree.

The accident is still under investigation.

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Comments

Liberals may believe it wasn't necessary to mention the ICE hold since it could imply that San Angelo Live is a racist organization. They would argue that this kid's citizenship status has no bearing on the accident.
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1234ja, Mon, 08/11/2014 - 18:40
This is the most ignorant post I've seen, you come off very offensive and racist with calling him and "illegal immigrant"? According to the other articles he's 19 And being the editor and chief, the accident occurred after 11. You should actually do some research next time Chelsea and get all the facts right.
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You see, Brooke just proved my comment as true. They take a statement of fact and twist it to suit thier liberal agenda. How dare you Chelsea to mention the ICE hold, don't you know Ponce is a human being just like us, well besides the fact he is most likely a thug and killed another person because of his selfish addiction. But don't worry Brooke, he will be given bail and he should be back in South America shortly thereafter. He won't have to pay for his crime. And actually Chelsea was nice referring to his status being checked to make sure he isn't an illegal immigrant instead of saying "to check and see if he is a wetback." Now that could be interpreted as racist, but no, they just want to confirm citizenship.
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Yes Paul, and many of the same ilk would cringe at any facts which would depict him as anything less than a model citizen -- because you know, he just wants to go college or do the jobs you and I don't want. And Brooke, I gave you the benefit of the doubt (lest there be any racist agendas here)and looked up the definitions of the term "illegal immigrant" along with the individual definitions of the two words respectively. "Illegal immigration" is a term used to describe the unlawful migration of (undocumented) people across national borders. Everyone here is either a citizen or an immigrant. If an immigrant crosses our established borders unlawfully -- this is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. illegal [ih-lee-guh l] adjective 1. forbidden by law or statute. 2. contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.: immigrant [im-i-gruh nt] noun 1. a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence. 2. an organism found in a new habitat.
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Val1, Tue, 08/12/2014 - 11:09
My guess at his reason for leaving the scene was his citizenship status. From reading the article several times, it appears he wasn't at fault in the accident. It doesn't say he was high on anything and it would be interesting to know if the other driver was under the influence before we put this Ponce guy away for fleeing the scene. It's a bad situation for all involved.
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...if the other driver was under the influence. Ponce fled the scene for whatever reason...he failed to stop and render aid in an accident that resulted in death and that is a second degree felony.
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