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Sunday, May 19, 2013 | 8:07 p.m.

Updated: 11:46 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 | Posted: 6:18 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

Police: Man injured, woman dead in Monday morning rollover did not wear seat belts

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Fernando Rodriguez and Juana Muniz
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Fernando Rodriguez and Juana Muniz

By Jesse MartinezRuben Veloz, Martina Valverde and El Paso Police, Witnesses

EL PASO, Texas —

Police confirmed that Juana Muniz, 25, has died from her injuries after being ejected from an SUV in a rollover crash Monday morning.

Another victim, Fernando Rodriguez, 26, is in the hospital facing life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened on Zaragoza Road and Gateway East Boulevard around 2 a.m. Monday.

Police said the driver of the Hummer SUV was going south on Zaragoza Road when it ran a red light and clipped a Honda Accord.

Witnesses said the two were ejected through the sunroof of the Hummer. Police said they were not wearing their seat belts.

Police have not identified who was driving the vehicle, and friends of Muniz and Rodriguez give conflicting reports on whom the SUV belonged to.

Witnesses who saw the crash said the Hummer flew more than 40 yards from the impact. 

Some people near the Valero gas station ran to help the man and woman, who where lying on the ground.

They said they were bleeding profusely from the head.

According to a photo on Muniz's Facebook wall, the two went to the Wing Daddy's on Lee Trevino Sunday afternoon – about 2.5 miles from the scene of the accident.

The driver of the Honda, Carlos Barragan, 22, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said speed and alcohol on the part of the occupants of the Hummer were factors in the crash.

Monday night friends of Muniz gathered at a west El Paso bar, The Palomino, where she worked. They said she was a loving mother, friend and model.

"She had this energy that everybody wanted to be around her, be her friend everybody just wanted something of her. Her smile was magnetic. Her laughter was amazing," said Sandy Quinoes.

One friend who was with the couple Sunday night said after Wing Daddy’s he met up with the couple at Tork, another bar in east El Paso. He said when he left at midnight, alcohol was not an issue.

"They weren't even buzzed. I don’t know what happened after that," said Fernando Rincon.

Friends are now preparing to give Muniz her final wish. Less than two months ago, Muniz posted on her Facebook wall that after her death she wanted a big party with tequila, pink roses and mariachis. Friends who showed up Monday night had pink roses in hand.

 

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