HOUSTON, TX (05/16/2016) — Jocelynn Valero died in a car accident caused by an intoxicated driver on Saturday night.
Jocelynn Valero
The Houston Police Department (HPD) identified 18-year-old Jocelynn Valero as the victim of a car accident that occurred along the Northwest Freeway service road in Houston, Texas.
The HPD reported that they spotted a suspected drunk driver (later identified as 27-year-old Edin Palacios-Rodas) driving erratically in a white pickup truck. Officers attempted to pull him over, however, he fled.
According to HPD spokesman Kese Smith, Palacios-Rodas made a U-turn, hopped a curb, and barreled through the parking lot of a Fiesta grocery store before running a red light at Tidwell Road. At the intersection, he collided with a Dodge Charger, occupied by two high school students returning home from their Senior Prom.
Valero, the passenger of the Charger, was pronounced dead at the scene. The 18-year-old driver of the Charger was transported to a nearby area hospital in serious condition.
The two teenagers were students at Yes Prep North Central High School.
“Our entire community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of one of our bright shining stars and praying for the recovery of another student critically injured in the same incident. We hope that the person responsible for the reckless behavior that prematurely ended a precious life and endangered another will be held accountable through our justice system and we will support the investigation in every way possible,” YES Prep leaders said in a statement.
Palacios-Rodas is expected to face a felony murder charge.
