Driver Charged After Fatal Hit-and-Run Incident in Texas

An individual without legal immigration status has been arrested in Irving, Texas, accused of driving under the influence after causing the death of a man on a scooter by hitting him twice with his vehicle.

The alleged perpetrator, Noe Ybarra Cedeno, 36, reportedly had consumed alcohol before the incident, which occurred just before 3 a.m. on June 19. The victim, identified as 31-year-old Tony Vasquez, was riding an electric scooter in the 2800 block of Cantrell Street when the accident took place.

According to reports, after striking Vasquez initially, Cedeno made a U-turn and hit him a second time, leaving the scene afterward.

Vasquez was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with severe injuries, including broken bones and trauma to the head, ultimately succumbing to his wounds.

Law enforcement pursued Cedeno’s Honda Civic shortly after the incident and managed to locate him. Reports indicate that he mentioned having a few beers while watching a World Cup match prior to driving.

In the arrest affidavit, Cedeno claimed, “As I was leaving, I hit something with my vehicle, but didn’t know what it was.” He later expressed uncertainty, believing he might have struck someone, but failed to see anything when he returned to the scene and hit “something again.”

Cedeno faces multiple charges including vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter resulting in death, and serious bodily injury caused by intoxicated driving, with a combined bond set at $350,000. Notably, he is also under an immigration hold due to his illegal status in the United States.

The father of the victim, Julio, expressed profound grief, stating, “It’s really terrible. Anyone who would do something like that…crazy or an animal.” He emphasized his desire for justice, highlighting that his son had many aspirations in life. “My heart is broken into pieces,” he added.

Vasquez had posted on social media about his pride in representing America, discussing his love for the country and its culture just a day before the tragedy.

This incident comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal immigration in Texas, where local law enforcement has begun partnering with federal authorities to target individuals with multiple DUI offenses.