Details Emerge About Friday's Intoxication Assault Incident on N. Emerson

On Friday at 6:15 p.m., San Angelo Police were dispatched to a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of North Emerson and East Harris.

Witnesses told police that the driver of one of the involved vehicles, a black 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, had fled the scene.  The other vehicle involved was a red 2007 Chrysler 300, operated by Sharon Ortiz, 51, or San Angelo.  Ortiz sustained serious, incapacitating injuries during the crash and was transported to Shannon Medical Center for treatment by San Angelo Fire Department EMS.  Her nephew called LIVE! offices Monday and said that she remains in the hospital. She was running an errand to the grocery store when she was hit by the Malibu, he said.

Evidence at the scene of the crash and witnesses helped identify 40-year-old Gabel Barrera as the driver of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Officers investigating the crash learned that Barrera was arrested for Public Intoxication at 302 N Main after he fled the scene of the crash and prior to it being known he was the driver from the hit-and-run.

The investigation revealed that Ortiz had been driving west on East Harris and Barrera was driving south on North Emerson.  Barrera disregarded the stop sign at the intersection and collided with Ortiz who was already in the intersection. Barrera had also collided with two other vehicles that were parked and unoccupied in the 100 block of N Emerson prior to the collision with Ortiz, police said.

Barrera was issued citations for Disregard Stop Sign, Expired Drivers License, and No Insurance.  Barrera was also charged with Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle causing Serious Bodily Injury.

San Angelo LIVE! originally reported that the black car used in the alleged assault was a Chevy Impala. The body types of Impalas and Malibus are similar and difficult to discern in a nearly-destroyed state. We have corrected the original story.