EL PASO, TEXAS — A 19-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in a deadly hit-and-run crash after her father brought her to the police station and told officers, “She’s the one that hit that person yesterday.”
Vivian Rose Padilla, of El Paso, was charged with collision involving death in connection with the crash that killed David Carmine O’Connor, 52, a longtime Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee at El Paso International Airport.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The collision occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in the 4600 block of Pershing Drive, near the intersection with Leeds Street in central El Paso.
Investigators said O’Connor was riding an electric-assist bicycle equipped with front and rear lights and wearing a reflective vest when he was hit from behind by a 2017 Kia Soul. The impact threw him onto the roadway. The driver sped away without stopping.
Emergency responders pronounced O’Connor dead at the scene. Police believe Padilla was using her phone around the time of the crash.
Evidence and Arrest
Roughly 12 hours later, Padilla and her father arrived at El Paso Police Department Headquarters. Investigators matched the Kia’s damage to broken car parts recovered at the crash site. Detectives also reported finding blood evidence inside and outside the vehicle.
Padilla was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond. Records show she later posted bond and was released pending trial.
Remembering the Victim
Friends and colleagues remembered David O’Connor for his love of nature and adventure and his devotion to caring for his pet turtle. A TSA spokesperson said he would be deeply missed by coworkers and the travelers he helped every day.
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