CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Police continue their investigation on a deadly accident that took place on South Padre Island Drive that left a 45-year-old man dead.
The Medical Examiner's office released the deceased man's identity as Ryan Solar.
According to Corpus Christi police, the incident occurred at approximately 7:21 p.m. Sunday in the 8500 block on Highway 358 westbound near Paul Jones.
One witness to the accident told KRIS 6 News the accident was caused by road rage.
"As soon as the lanes opened up to three, the newer Ford went around the older Ford and went in front of him and brake-checked him, which caused the older Ford to swerve," said witness Christopher Resendez. "He hit the back of his tailgate and went ahead and went over the railing which caused two people to eject the vehicle."
Investigators say that two cars and four people were involved in the accident. Police say both vehicles were reported to have flipped over with two occupants in the same vehicle being ejected.
Police say that both vehicles were traveling westbound on the highway just east of Paul Jones. The driver of one vehicle drove in front of the other vehicle and then hit the brakes, causing the collision.
Both vehicles then went off the highway and came to a rest in the 8400 block of SPID westbound.
The driver of the first car is a 36-year-old male and a 33-year-old passenger in the rear were both transported to the hospital with injuries.
Police say the driver of the first vehicle is suspected of being under the influence of intoxicating substances other than alcohol and is possibly facing charges. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office, and they will make that determination on criminal charges at a later time. The driver of the first vehicle's name will not be released unless he is arrested or indicted, police said.
22-year-old Nicholas Guerrero, the driver and sole occupant of the second vehicle, was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and marijuana and was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated, police said. He was not the cause of the accident, police said.
Both vehicles were Ford trucks.
The fatality was the 16th in Corpus Christi in 2021.
All westbound lanes on HWY 358 were closed from Flour Bluff to Ennis Joslin Sunday nigfht for the department's investigation.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
