Inset left: Vivian Rose Padilla (City of El Paso). Inset right: David Carmine O”Connor (Mt. Carmel Funeral Home). Background: The 4600 block of Pershing Street in El Paso, Texas (Google Maps).
Nearly two months after a tragic hit-and-run claimed the life of a TSA employee, a breakthrough has been made. Texas authorities have apprehended a woman in connection with the incident.
El Paso officials have charged 19-year-old Vivian Padilla with a crime related to the fatal collision. The announcement comes following an investigation into the early morning crash on September 7, which resulted in the death of 52-year-old David O’Connor.
O’Connor was navigating the streets of El Paso on his electric-assisted bicycle when he was struck from behind by a 2017 Kia Soul. Despite the impact, the driver failed to stop and continued driving, leaving O’Connor critically injured at the scene.
According to an arrest affidavit shared by KFOX, a local Fox affiliate, O’Connor was taking precautions for his safety. He wore a reflective vest, and his bicycle was equipped with lights, enhancing his visibility to drivers.
Tragically, despite these measures, O’Connor was thrown from his bike during the collision and later succumbed to his injuries.
The case saw a pivotal turn when Padilla’s father escorted her to the El Paso Police Department headquarters. In a striking revelation, he identified his daughter as the driver involved in the hit-and-run, reportedly stating to the officers, “She’s the one that hit that person yesterday.”
Damage to Padilla’s vehicle is said to have perfectly matched the broken car parts at the site of the crash, and there were bloodstains inside and outside the vehicle. The suspect is believed to have been on her phone during and after the crash.
Padilla was placed in the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond. As of Thursday, she was no longer listed as being in the jail.
O’Connor was a TSA employee at El Paso International Airport, per his obituary. He is remembered as having had a “deep love for nature and adventure,” as well as “caring for his beloved pet turtle.” He is survived by his parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews.
