ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — A woman was arrested Tuesday in connection to a Sept. 17 crash that ended up taking the life of Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez, according to Sergeant Steven Blanco with DPS.
Blanco stated that 50-year-old Laura Rodriguez was arrested at 7:30 a.m. at her home in Odessa by DPS' Texas Highway Patrol State Crash Reconstruction Team.
On Sept. 17 along State Highway 302 in Ector County, Blanco said Rodriguez hit Ector County Deputy Justin Toombs' patrol unit, which then hit Trooper Vasquez. Trooper Vasquez was taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, then was airlifted to a Lubbock-area hospital.
On Sept. 28, Trooper Vasquez died.
Laura Rodriguez has been booked into the Ector County jail on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant.
According to Ector County jail records, her bonds have not been set yet.
"The department would like to remind drivers of the state’s Move Over or Slow Down law, which requires drivers to move over and put a lane between them and emergency personnel on the side of the road or reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, first responders, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and TxDOT vehicles stopped with emergency lights activated," Blanco said. "Violators face fines of up to $1,250 for a first offense, and there are stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious injuries – including possible jail time and fines up to $4,000."
No further information on the case is available at this time, as it still is an active case.
