Odessa teen dies in rollover accident -- cell phone usage possibly to blame

The father of 18-year-old Rebecca Salinas walked solemnly back toward his family carrying his daughter’s light brown purse in his arm — the final memento of his child.

The tears on his face indicated the body he had identified was his daughter, Rebecca Salinas.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Shannon Mauney, about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2007, Rebecca Salinas was driving a Pontiac Firebird north on Damascus Avenue when she went off the road while trying to make a curve and consequently lost control of her vehicle.

fter going off-road, the Firebird rolled twice and trapped Rebecca Salinas under the car.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by medical examiner Carl Rogers.

“Cell phone usage was a factor in the crash,” Mauney said. “We’re not sure about speed. We haven’t calculated it yet.”

Five-year-old Rudi Salinas, Rebecca Salinas’ nephew, had been ejected during the accident and was airlifted to Medical Center Hospital. Hospital officials advised that he was listed in fair condition as of that night.   The child was later released from the hospital on Thursday, March 1st.

Another passenger, 16-year-old Bianca Rojo, had minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital.

Mauney said Rojo called her family after the accident.

While DPS was investigating the accident, Rebecca Salinas’ family showed up after being contacted by Rojo, Mauney said.

After he arrived, Rebecca Salinas’ father went to the wreckage and identified his daughter, while his wife begged officials to let her see her daughter.

“Well let me see her!” she screamed in Spanish. “I want to see her! I want to look at her!”

As the sun set, the families left the scene to allow the DPS troopers to continue their investigation.

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