An El Paso high school senior who was struck and killed by a driver who allegedly ran a red light is being remembered for having “the kindest soul, a beautiful smile and a heart that cared deeply about everyone,” the first traffic-related death in El Paso in 2026.
Adrian Cisneros, spokesman for the El Paso Police Department, said in a news release that around 2 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, 18-year-old Angelique Diaz De Leon was a passenger in a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro when she was struck by a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro near Gateway North Boulevard and Sean Haggerty Drive in Northeast. Killed after being hit by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
Angelique Diaz De Leon, 18, died after a car she was riding in collided with another vehicle at Gateway North and Sean Haggerty Drive in northeast El Paso around 2 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1.
Police responding to the two-car collision found Diaz de Leon dead at the scene. An investigation revealed that the Silverado driven by Abel Garcia, 48, of Chaparral, New Mexico, allegedly failed to stop at a red light and T-boned the Camaro, the release said.
“On January 1, 2026, our family lost a heart,” her family wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Our beautiful Angelique left us too soon and our world will never be the same without her.
“Angelique was pure love. She had the kindest soul, a beautiful smile, and a heart that deeply cared about everyone around her. She was smarter than her years, effortlessly funny, and never angry at heart. She always helped us, always showed up, and always gave us more love than she could ever ask for.”
Nicholas Jasay Ramirez, 19, of Chaparral, who was driving a Camaro, suffered minor injuries. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
El Paso police investigators determined that Garcia’s failure to stop at a red light contributed to the crash. Police said alcohol is also suspected to be a contributing factor but did not release further information on whether Garcia faces criminal charges. As of Tuesday, Jan. 6, he had not been listed in jail records.
Angelique ‘brings light to our campus’
Officials at Trans Mountain Early Academy High School in the El Paso Independent School District said in a statement on its website that Diaz de Leon “was on her way home when a drunk driver collided with the vehicle she was riding in.”
Diaz De Leon graduated as part of Early College’s spring 2025 class.
“Angelique joined TMECHS after applying in the fall of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said. “She returned to campus at a time of great uncertainty and became one of the first students to participate in the in-person Summer Bridge program in the summer of 2021. From the beginning, she demonstrated determination, focus and resilience as she worked toward earning her high school diploma and associate of science degree.”
More: El Paso reports first fatal crash of 2026, killing 1
She is considered a hardworking person who always helps her classmates.
“Angelique has maintained a strong work ethic throughout her time at TMECHS,” the statement said. “She supports her peers, steps up when others are in need, and treats those around her with care and respect. Students and faculty know her to be dependable, kind and uplifting. She brings light to our campus.”
Angelique Diaz de Leon
“She embraced the academic rigor of early college courses. Angelique completed four years of high school while taking college courses at El Paso Community College. In the spring of 2025, she graduated from EPCC and TMECHS with an associate’s degree and high school diploma.”
Diaz de Leon attended Pima Medical College, where she planned to pursue a career in occupational therapy, the statement said.
“We pay tribute to Angelique,” the statement concluded. “We remember her. She will always be a maverick.”
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. You can contact him at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared in the El Paso Times: ‘Kindest soul, beautiful smile’ EPISD graduate dies in New Year’s car crash