Man arrested at airport for Cockrell Hill fatal hit-and-run
Miguel Briseno Mendez (Dallas County jail)
COCKRELL HILL, Texas - Police arrested the man they believe is responsible for the hit-and-run death of a 56-year-old woman in Cockrell Hill earlier this month.
Miguel Briseno Mendez was taken into custody on Saturday after returning home to North Texas and landing at Dallas Love Field Airport.
The 24-year-old was then booked into the Dallas County jail and charged with a collision involving death.
Cockrell Hill Fatal Hit-and-Run
What we know:
The deadly accident happened just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 2 near the intersection of S. Cockrell Hill Road and Division Street.
Police said 56-year-old Nancy Dowd was hit and killed while crossing the street.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the driver of a black pickup truck told police he did not see Dowd and hit her as he was turning right.
The driver stopped at the intersection to check on Dowd, who was still alive at the time but injured.
He told police that as he got back into his truck to call 911, a speeding black car drove by and hit Dowd again, running over her head and dragging her. That car did not stop.
Dowd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
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The Investigation
What we know:
Investigators found parts of a 2007-2010 black Lexus IS 250 in the street near Dowd’s body following the crash.
They used license plate cameras to find a vehicle matching that description that passed through the area around the time of the crash.
Briseno Mendez was identified as the driver after the investigators showed up at an address associated with the vehicle’s registered owner.
He admitted to taking medication that day and said the accident happened as he and his wife were driving home. He claimed he went around the truck and thought he hit a pothole.
"Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. Thought I hit a pothole. You know how Cockrell Hill has bumpy roads," he told police who questioned him on the phone, the affidavit states.
He was in Tennessee for a work trip at the time but told investigators where they could find the car and agreed to meet with them once he returned home.
The affidavit states investigators found front end damage on the car consistent with the parts found at the crime scene. Human hairs found on a tire were also collected as evidence.
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What's next:
Police said they are still investigating and asked that anyone with information contact the department.
"Our thoughts are with the family of Nancy Dowd as they mourn her loss. This arrest is the result of diligent investigative work and the dedication of our officers to bring justice to victims and their families. We remain committed to ensuring the safety of our community," Captain Shahin Allachian said.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Cockrell Hill Police Department and an arrest warrant affidavit.