EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — An El Paso County grand jury has declined to indict a woman previously arrested in connection with a deadly Lower Valley crash, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The case stems from an incident in which 57-year-old Ana Maria Paniagua was killed, and 62-year-old Aurora Morales was facing a charge of intoxication manslaughter.
However, after reviewing the evidence, the grand jury chose not to move forward with criminal charges, the DA’s office said.
In a statement attributable to the District Attorney, officials emphasized the legal standard required to proceed with felony cases in Texas:
Under Texas law, a grand jury must return an indictment to proceed with a felony criminal case. While Ms. Paniagua’s death is a tragedy, all of the facts and circumstances of the incident were presented to an El Paso County grand jury, which declined to return any criminal charges against Ms. Morales.
A grand jury’s decision not to indict means prosecutors cannot pursue the felony charge unless new evidence emerges and the case is re-presented.
The incident happened on the 7800 block of North Loop in the Lower Valley in February.
RELATED: Woman arrested on intoxication manslaughter charge in deadly Lower Valley crash
The preliminary investigation revealed that Paniagua offered to drive Morales home.
As Morales was changing seats, the 1999 Ford F350 began to roll backward, striking Paniagua.
She was transported to the hospital, where she died.
The grand jury process, which operates independently, evaluates whether sufficient evidence exists to support formal charges.
While the decision closes this chapter of the criminal case, officials acknowledged the loss of life and its impact on those involved.
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.