Posted: Sep 2, 2010 5:39 PM
Updated: Sep 3, 2010 9:34 PM
SELLS, Ariz. - The Tohono O'odham Police Department announced that it has officially charged Angela Mata of Sells, Ariz. in connection with the fatal vehicle collision that occurred on Sept. 2. Mata, age 40, faces charges of negligent homicide, criminal damage and driving under the influence. Federal charges are pending at this time.
At 9:30 a.m., Ms. Mata-who was alone in the vehicle-was traveling east on a dirt road on the Tohono O'odham Nation approximately seven miles north of the U.S. border near the village of Topawa. As she approached Federal Route 19, she failed to yield and collided with a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle that was traveling north on FR 19. Ms. Mata's vehicle struck the Border Patrol agent's vehicle causing it to roll off of the roadway.
The agent was Michael Gallagher, 32. He had been with Border patrol for 2 years.
Mata was taken to Indian Health Service for the treatment of non-life threatening injuries and is currently in custody. Based on field sobriety tests, it appears Mata was under the influence of alcohol during the time of the accident.
Joseph Delgado, Chief of the Tohono O'odham Police Department, said, "This is a tragic event that could have been prevented. I hope this is a wake-up call to everyone that driving under the influence is dangerous, unlawful and, unfortunately in this case, proved to be deadly."
SELLS - A Border patrol agent has been killed after an accident on Federal Route 19. The accident happened Thursday just south of Sells. Chief Joe Delgado of the Tonto O'Odham police department tells News 4 his officers responded to an accident and found a Border Patrol unit was involved. The Border Patrol agent was pronounced dead on the scene. The agent will not be identified until all proper notifications to his family have been made.
The driver of the second vehicle, an unidentified woman, sustained minor injuries. She was transported to a local hospital.
The accident is under investigation.
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