Enrique Nunez Sotelo killed in 2-vehicle accident northwest of Seminole

GAINES COUNTY, Texas — Enrique Nunez Sotelo, a 57-year-old Denver City man, tragically died Feb. 12 after a driver ran a stop sign and crashed into his vehicle.

Sotelo was driving west on County Road 212 in a Nissan Murano when Randy Atwood, a 48-year-old Hobbs, N.M., man ran the stop sign on County Road 211 just before noon in a Lincoln Navigator. The Lincoln entered the intersection of CR 212 and CR 211 and crashed into the Murano.

Sotelo died at the scene of the crash. Emergency personnel transported Atwood to Covenant Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

The crash remains under investigation. No additional information was immediately available.

Thoughts on the Fatal Accident in Gaines County, Texas that Left Enrique Sotelo Dead

The alleged facts in this case clearly indicate Mr. Sotelo and his family were wronged by another’s negligence. This is unacceptable and must be accounted for.

The law has two methods of accounting for one’s actions. On one hand, our justice system utilizes criminal law to prosecute wrongdoers through the state. Under this law, the state will consider the willfulness of Mr. Atwood’s action to determine if state penalties such as jail time or probation should be enacted. On the other hand, our justice system utilizes civil law to protect innocent parties wronged by another’s actions. For instance, because of Mr. Atwood’s actions, the Sotelo family lost a father, son, and brother. The pain caused by this accident is real and will have lasting effects. As such, the law requires Mr. Atwood to do what is possible financially to put the wronged family in the place they would have been had the act never occurred. Generally, this is accomplished through the wrongdoer’s insurance provider.

It is too early to tell what will happen in this case. However, it is clear a family was wronged, and the wrongdoer must provide answers. Until that time, I extend my condolences to the Sotelo family and hope they can find peace during this difficult time.

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