By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
No citations or charges will be filed in connection with a crash at the Cripple Creek restaurant in late November, sheriff’s office officials said.
A report on the crash was released Wednesday by the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident report, written by VVSO Deputy Melissa Arrañaga, indicates the crash occurred at 7:40 p.m. on Nov. 26 in the parking lot outside the Cripple Creek restaurant, 5667 U.S. Highway 90.
Arrañaga reported the crash occurred when a silver 2021 GMC Sierra pickup, driven by Don Wilson, 85, of Del Rio, ran into one of the walls of the restaurant. Neither Wilson nor his passenger, Jessica Rojas, 41, were injured in the collision with the building.
A diner inside the restaurant, identified in the report as Leigh Martinez, 32, also a resident of Del Rio, was transported by ambulance to Val Verde Regional Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries, the report indicates.
In her “narrative opinion of what happened,” Arrañaga wrote, “(The pickup) was parking at Cripple Creek parking lot, located at 5667 U.S. 90 W, when the operator (of the pickup) confused the gas pedal with the brake pedal, causing the pickup to strike the Cripple Creek wall. (Martinez) was sitting inside Cripple Creek eating when (the pickup) struck the restaurant wall, hitting directly where (she) was sitting.”
Arrañaga in her report noted Wilson’s pickup was “drivable” following the crash and listed “damaged property other than vehicles” as a broken window and wall damage to the Cripple Creek building, which is owned by Polo Del Rio of Del Rio.
The accident report also indicates Wilson was not cited or charged with any criminal offenses following the collision.
VVSO Lt. Manuel “Manny” Herrera, who heads the sheriff’s office patrol division, told the 830 Times Wednesday he does not anticipate citations or criminal charges will be pursued against the driver.
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