EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 An eight-vehicle crash on Loop 375 in Northwest El Paso near Transmountain on Monday morning that left one person dead and another seriously injured was caused by a reported brake failure of a truck tractor pulling a semitrailer, according to authorities. <\/p>\n
The El Paso Police Department said on Tuesday the Special Traffic Investigation unit responded to the crash at Loop 375 and North Desert. <\/p>\n
Investigators said a truck tractor pulling a semitrailer was traveling southbound on Loop 375 approaching the intersection of North Desert when the driver reported brake failure and proceeded through the intersection.<\/p>\n
Police said the semitrailer continued south and sideswiped a Toyota RAV4, pushing that vehicle into a Ford F-150 at the intersection of South Desert. The semitrailer then struck a Chevrolet Colorado, killing the driver at the scene, police said.<\/p>\n
EPPD said that the driver has been identified as 42-year-old Rene Dario Perez-Ramirez, a West El Paso resident. <\/p>\n
According to police, the semitrailer continued south, striking a Ford F-350 and pushing it into a Subaru Forester. Debris from that impact struck a GMC Sierra, according to police. <\/p>\n
The driver of the Ford F-350 reported serious injuries.<\/p>\n
Police said the crash is the 55th traffic fatality this year, compared to 51 at the same time last year. <\/p>\n
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.<\/p>\n
The update on what caused the crash comes as El Paso city leaders addressed public safety concerns as well as jurisdiction and enforcement challenges along Transmountain Road during a press conference. <\/p>\n
WATCH FULL PRESSER: <\/p>\n
City officials introduce the “Enough is Enough” initiative to curb crashes on Transmountain (Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mayor Renard Johnson and El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas spoke on the recent crashes and broader safety issues along the Transmountain Road corridor as they called for a way to limit heavy truck traffic on Transmountain <\/p>\n
“I will work with Chief Pacillas, the City Council, our city manager, our city attorney, and TxDOT to find ways to limit heavy truck traffic on Transmountain. I know trucks are important to our economy. They move our goods, and they support local businesses. Truck drivers also deserve safe roads, but moving goods can never be more important than protecting lives. We will look for safer routes, review state and federal rules, and identify what we can legally do to protect people. We will move quickly,” Johnson said. <\/p>\n
According to Pacillas, officials are now stepping up enforcement by enacting the “Enough is Enough” initiative, which will inspect commercial vehicles going through Transmountain effective immediately. <\/p>\n
“We, the mayor, the city council, and the police department have committed to the “Enough is Enough” initiative to stop fatalities on the roadway. Effective immediately, the El Paso Police Department’s commercial vehicle inspection. Inspectors are going to start inspecting vehicles, commercial-sized vehicles that are going up on Transmountain Road,” Pacillas said.<\/p>\n
He added, “What I’m asking the public to do is obey the law. And we’re going to keep this going until we can get a solution to the problem of heavy vehicles coming off of Transmountain. I’m asking for the public’s patience because there could be congestion when these officers are out there inspecting these large vehicles.”<\/p>\n
When asked why the initiative is being implemented now after several deadly crashes, Pacillas said that while officials have tried to increase coordination and accountability among local and state agencies responsible for roadway and traffic safety, more needs to be done. <\/p>\n
“So we have tried different. And when I say we, we are working with the state, the signage that’s up there instructing the truck drivers what to do, the additional runaway truck ramp that they put on the west side. These initiatives are still there, and there are still people getting hurt and killed out there. So we’re stepping up the enforcement to make sure that these vehicles are safe,” Pacillas said.<\/p>\n
El Paso launches ‘Enough is Enough’ truck inspections after deadly Transmountain crash (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the initiative comes after recent reports of several significant crashes involving semi-trucks on or near the Transmountain roadway.<\/p>\n
In late August, a semi-truck crash near Desert South at Transmountain resulted in two people being hospitalized with minor injuries, an incident that occurred after the truck appeared to pass the recently opened runaway truck ramp.<\/p>\n
The frequency of these incidents has led to ongoing discussions regarding roadway safety and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Following years of deadly wrecks on the steep grade, including a previous incident where a runaway semi-truck caused a massive explosion that killed one person and injured six others, TxDOT opened the first mechanical runaway truck ramp in Texas.<\/p>\n
In a statement to KFOX14\/CBS4, TxDOT confirmed that while the runaway truck ramp has been open since July, it has not been used. <\/p>\n
“The mechanical runaway truck ramp, which opened July 1 and is the first of its kind installed in Texas, has not been used. It is fully operational and available for use, a TxDOT spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
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