![\"Mugshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790376759_306_dc9cf16c-d41b-417a-813e-a51fee922d18-medium16x9_MicrosoftTeamsimage5.png\")
<\/p>\nEL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Nearly four years after investigators said a drunk driver killed 28-year-old El Paso resident Steven Hernandez, his mother said repeated delays in the case have forced her family to relive the loss again and again.<\/p>\n
Records show the woman charged in the case, Valeria Mena, had been arrested for DWI twice before. <\/p>\n
In 2023, investigators said Mena ran a red light, causing the crash that killed Steven Hernandez. Mena was charged with intoxication manslaughter and was let out on bond last year. She is facing her third DWI offense.<\/p>\n
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Mugshot of Valeria Mena. (Credit: EPPD)<\/p>\n
RELATED: Bond reduction denied for woman accused of running red light, intoxicated in deadly crash<\/a><\/p>\n Steven’s mother, Lupe Hernandez, said the long wait for the case to move forward has been painful for the family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s breaking because my son doesn\u2019t get rest; we have to relive this nightmare,\u201d Lupe said. \u201cThere\u2019s no ending to it and it\u2019s a pain that no family should endure. It\u2019s like were treated like we\u2019re the criminals, not the victims.\u201d<\/p>\n Lupe said each delay reopens the family’s grief.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time the wounds open, the hurt, the pain, knowing that this person gets to go home with,\u201d Lupe said.<\/p>\n Steven Hernandez and his mom. Credit: Lupe Hernandez<\/p>\n RELATED: An El Paso family’s plea for sober driving ahead of Fourth of July<\/a><\/p>\n Since her son\u2019s death, Lupe has become an advocate against drinking and driving. She founded the Sober Streets Movement and has been working to change DWI laws, saying she wants tougher consequences for people who repeatedly break the law.<\/p>\n \u201cJustice won’t even bring my son back. But you need to be accountable for your actions. You need to be accountable when you\u2019re given chances, and you continue to break the law,\u201d Lupe said.<\/p>\n The case is now set for trial in November, but Lupe said another continuance could still delay the case if all parties are not ready. She said she plans to continue her advocacy work in the meantime.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if we can protect another family from enduring our loss and our voices being spoken and sharing the awareness and educating and help find ways that so no family has to go through a loss that what we’ve been through,\u201d Lupe said.<\/p>\n The District Attorney\u2019s Office was asked what more can be done to speed up the trial, but the office said it cannot comment on open cases.<\/p>\n Steven Hernandez family. Credit: Lupe Hernandez<\/p>\n RELATED: El Paso officials call for more officers to address DWI surge, speed up booking process<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790376760_900_947d7567-6562-4d93-bf6a-a029d349876a-medium16x9_withmom.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790376761_407_a153719b-fc4f-469a-be77-2c67227ba086-medium16x9_StevenHernandezfamily.jpeg\")
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