An El Paso educator known for her kindness and aiding those in need died after she was struck by a rolling vehicle as she attempted to stop another woman from driving drunk, court documents state.
Ana Maria Paniagua, 57, offered to drive Aurora Morales, 62, home about 5:20 p.m. on Feb. 7 because she was worried Morales was drunk, as she was coping with the anniversary of her son’s death, a criminal complaint affidavit states.
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Ana Maria Paniagua, 57, left, died after a vehicle ran her over as she attempted to help an alleged drunk driver on Feb. 7, 2026, in the 7800 block of North Loop Drive in El Paso’s Lower Valley.
As Morales tried to switch seats, her 1999 Ford F350 pickup truck rolled back in the parking lot of Juanito’s Liquor Store in the 7800 block of North Loop Drive in the Lower Valley. The truck fatally struck Paniagua.
Paniagua was a paraprofessional at Jefferson High School, El Paso Independent School District officials said.
“True to who she was, Ana Maria did not hesitate to help someone in need,” her family wrote on a GoFundMe page. “Tragically, during this act of kindness, an accident occurred involving the same vehicle they were attempting to assist.
“Ana Maria was known for always putting others first and never asking for support herself. Serving others in moments of need was simply who she was.”
Morales is facing one count of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with Paniagua’s death. No attorney is named for Morales in court records.
Teacher was trying to stop alleged drunk driver
El Paso police officers met with Paniagua’s daughter at Del Sol Medical Center, where Paniagua was being treated after the crash. Paniagua later died at the hospital from the injuries she suffered in the crash.
The daughter told officers she and her mom saw Morales earlier in the day in front of her house, appearing to need assistance. Paniagua stopped at Morales’ house and checked on her.
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Morales told Paniagua that she did not typically drink any alcohol, but had been drinking that day because she was remembering her son, who was killed eight years ago on Feb. 22. She was drinking in “an attempt to forget the passing of her son,” the affidavit states.
Paniagua and another passerby helped Morales get back into her front yard and called for medical services. EMTs arrived and helped Morales back into her house.
Paniagua and her daughter finished running errands and decided to go back to Morales’ house to check on her. They found that a vehicle previously parked at the house was gone.
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The mother and daughter drove around the area, particularly where there were bars, to try and find Morales. They spotted Morales’ truck outside the liquor store.
Paniagua went up to the driver’s side window and spoke to Morales. The truck was running and in reverse gear. She offered to drive Morales home. Morales moved over to the center seat and released the brake, the affidavit states.
The truck began rolling backwards. Paniagua became trapped by the front left tire, which rolled over her midsection, the affidavit states.
‘I never saw her’
At the scene of the crash, an officer told Morales that she had been involved in a crash. Morales replied, “Yo, se, yo estaba manejando patras pero nunca la mire,” meaning in English, “I know, I was driving backwards but I never saw her,” the affidavit states.
An officer wrote in the affidavit that Morales had “red glossy eyes, but noted that the defendant (Morales) had been crying as she was speaking” to the officer.
Aurora Morales
Morales was taken to a police station and placed in a holding cell. She was questioned by officers. Morales recalled being at the liquor store and was reversing when she heard banging on her truck’s left window, the affidavit states. She told Paniagua that the window didn’t work and to open the door.
An officer asked if Morales had been driving. Morales replied that she was not driving and that it was her friend who was driving, but “did not want to get her in any trouble,” the affidavit states.
Morales first claimed she got out of the vehicle from the driver’s side, but later claimed she got out of the truck “from the side of the person steering,” the affidavit states. The officer interviewing her allegedly smelled alcohol coming from Morales.
Officers conducted a field sobriety test on Morales, which she failed. She was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle.
Morales remains jailed on a $250,000 bond at the El Paso County Jail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, court records show.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso educator dies after trying to stop alleged drunk driver
