A tragic incident unfolded in El Paso, Texas, when a drunk Army sergeant allegedly caused a fatal car accident that claimed the lives of Navy veteran Rick Ballard, 28, and his fiancée, Dalia Olivas, 28, the November 2. Juan Francisco Del Valle Ferrer, 25, allegedly consumed a significant amount of alcohol at a gender reveal party before running his Honda HR-V through a red light and colliding with the couple’s Mercedes at an intersection, according to The Pass County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents reveal the violent nature of the crash, which occurred around 11:37 p.m. The impact caused the Mercedes to spin and crash into a light pole. Ballard was ejected from the car with such force that he suffered serious injuries, including the traumatic amputation of his right leg, which was found inside the vehicle. Olivas, English teacher at Triumph High School in El PasoHe was sitting in the passenger seat. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries.
Del Valle Ferrer, a US Army sergeant stationed at Fort Bliss, was allegedly very intoxicated when police arrived at the scene. Witnesses described an odor of alcohol, and according to the arrest affidavit, Del Valle Ferrer admitted to consuming “a lot” at the gender reveal party before the crash. He was found wearing a blue bracelet from the event, indicating his attendance. Del Valle Ferrer reportedly sped through a red light without hesitation and collided with the Mercedes in what witnesses described as a “reckless” action, they said. KFOX14.
He was also injured in the crash and taken to the hospital before being booked into the El Paso County Jail. The collision occurred approximately 15 miles from Fort Bliss, where Del Valle Ferrer is based. Following the accident, Del Valle Ferrer was charged with two counts of intoxication and involuntary manslaughter. He is currently being held on $520,000 bail.
Family members of both victims expressed their pain and anger over Del Valle Ferrer’s “reckless actions” through GoFundMe pages set up for funeral expenses. Ballard’s family described him as a hard-working person who divided his time between his home in Florida and El Paso, where he frequently visited his family. “His death is too soon and his entire family could use your love and support.” they wrote.
Olivas’ sister, Diana Villalobos, paid tribute to him as a vibrant, compassionate person, “full of life” and with “a heart of gold.” The loss has left his family devastated. Olivas was in her second year teaching English at Triumph High School, where her principal, Francisco Chávez, spoke warmly of her. Chavez shared that Olivas had told her over the summer that she and Ballard planned to move to Florida, marking this school year as their last. Their aspirations and life plans were cut short by the tragedy.
This tragic accident highlights the profound consequences of driving under the influence, especially as the families of Ballard and Olivas mourn the loss of two young lives full of promise. The incident has left the El Paso community in shock, and the case against Del Valle Ferrer now continues as he faces serious charges for his actions.