Jose Gilvane Oliveira Baldassari, the 18-wheeler driver suspected in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Midland, Texas that killed two people on Tuesday has been arrested.
Suspect Charged with 2 Counts of Manslaughter
U.S. Border Patrol agents found Baldassari, 48, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Thursday afternoon, walking along Texas 20 near Silverman Road, just six miles east of the Macelino Serna Port of Entry in El Paso County.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, he has been charged with two counts of manslaughter in connection with the accident.
“I spoke to the agent in charge of the El Paso area and had a meeting with him this morning,” Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said in an interview with Midland Reporter-Telegram. “He told me about it, and I congratulated him on doing a good job. It certainly was a job well-done by those officers.”
Suspect Failed to Control Speed, Killing 2 in Pickup Truck
The July 10th crash occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m., in the eastbound lane of I-20 in Midland, between FM 1788 and Loop 338.
According to the DPS, a prior accident had caused traffic on the interstate to back up. Baldassari failed to control his speed and crashed into a pickup truck, setting off a chain reaction collision with 3 other vehicles.
Baldassari then fled the scene of the accident on foot.
The occupants of the pickup truck, Ricardo Silva-Martinez, 27, of Mexico, and Bladimir Rodriguez, 43, of Florida, died in the crash.
A third motorist, Emma Bejarano, 44, was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries.
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