The deadly accident happened on State Route 54 near Ellerthorpe Avenue at around 12 a.m. on Friday, December, 26, 2025
El Paso, CA – The El Paso Police Department has arrested George Thomas Halvorsen, 39, of El Paso, after months for a hit-and-run crash on Highway 54 in El Paso.
The deadly accident happened on State Route 54 near Ellerthorpe Avenue at around 12 a.m. on Friday, December, 26, 2025.
A preliminary investigation indicated that Miguel Eduardo Rodriguez, 36, stopped his car on Gateway North and began walking on the shoulder of the highway when he was hit by a vehicle operated by Halvorsen before fleeing the scene.
Rodriguez was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Halvorsen, on Thursday, March 19, 2026, was arrested in connection with the wreck and booked into the El Paso County jail the next day on a bond totaling $105,000.
No additional information about the incident was available.
An investigation is underway.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), California continues to record thousands of serious traffic crashes every year. Preliminary data shows that 4,061 people were killed in traffic crashes across California in 2023, compared to 4,539 fatalities in 2022. Officials also report that California experiences more than 150,000 crashes annually on state roadways, including over 50,000 injury collisions. Speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and failure to wear seatbelts remain among the leading factors contributing to fatal crashes throughout the state.
Families affected by serious accidents may seek legal guidance to understand their rights.