EL PASO, Texas -- The deputy constable arrested on a DWI charge was allegedly driving with no insurance and tried to flee the scene of a collision he caused.

"He smelled like alcohol, like liquor, a strong odor of liquor. We noticed a bottle of vodka and a glass," said Rudy Gavaldon, a construction worker who was driving back to the yard from a job.

Gavaldon's co-worker snapped three pictures at the scene of the car crash allegedly caused by Deputy Constable Daniel Cortez. He said Cortez was driving a Ford Explorer when he rear-ended them in the Lower Valley near Interstate 10.

"When he hit us, I went forward and I kept on looking back. I felt like he hit us twice," said Gavaldon.

As KFOX reported, Cortez, a deputy constable in Precinct 6, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated with an open container on Tuesday. He received a three-day suspension. Cortez could face losing his job pending the result of his DWI case and an internal investigation conducted by the Precinct 6 Constable's Office.

"He was right behind us swerving from lane to lane. At the exit, he hit the curb and almost took the sign out," said Gavaldon.

The damage to the work truck may not seem like much, but Manny Torres, the foreman at Asphalt Pavers, said the impact cracked the heavy duty steel crank on the bumper. Torres said he tried to get Cortez's insurance information but the police officer on the scene told him Cortez's insurance had expired.

Torres said he feels the accident could have been a lot worse.

"He's lucky that he hit this truck and not the vehicle in front. You know the accident at Hawkins and Montana, the girl that got hit by that soldier, things like that can happen. Luckily, it didn't happen that way," said Torres.

Gavaldon said before he could talk to him, Cortez put his SUV in reverse. He says if it wasn't for his co-worker removing the keys out of the SUV, Cortez would have fled the scene.

"When the cops showed up, he said his brother was driving. He was lying. I don't know where he came up with that one. There was no one in there but himself," said Gavaldon.