Dallas police say they want to talk o 24-yaer-old Dagobero Castanon, he’s a person of interest in Tuesday’s deadly hit-and-run crash that left Ethan Vasquez dead and his mother critically injured.
The Dallas Police Department has named a person of interest in connection with the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed the son of a Cedar Hill police officer on Tuesday.
Dallas police said they would like to speak with Dagoberto Castanon, a 24-year-old Hispanic male on probation for theft who was linked to the crash through physical evidence found at the scene.
The crash killed 13-year-old Ethan Vasquez, who was riding in the car with his mother, Sandy, when their Nissan Versa was hit broadside by the driver of a stolen minivan who was trying to elude Highland Park police officers, police said.
Both Sandy Vasquez and her son were transported to area hospitals; she remains hospitalized in critical condition Thursday while the teen died shortly after arrival at the hospital.
The pair were headed to the boy's school, the William B. Travis Academy for the academically talented and gifted, when the crash occurred.
Following the crash, witnesses reported seeing as many as two people running from the minivan. At this time, Dallas police are still unable to confirm the number of people who may have been in the minivan at the time of the crash.
However, police did reveal Thursday that physical evidence found in the van points them toward Castanon.
"We have a person of interest, someone that we would like to make contact with. As a result of our investigation we believe this person of interest can give us vital information in resolving this case," said Deputy Chief Gil Garza, with the Dallas Police Department. "His name is Dagoberto Castanon."
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Castanon, police say, is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and is currently wanted on a probation violation out of Collin County.
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Garza said that evidence found by investigators, including video recorded in the area, showed that the vehicle had been used in property crimes in the Dallas area. Police said Castanon is now a person of interest in the capital murder investigation into the death of Vasquez since, police said, a felony was being committed when the fatal crash occurred.
At this time Castanon is the only person of interest named by officials in the case and police would say little else about what led them to Castanon.
"The evidence that we have leads us to suggest that he can provide information to us regarding this case," Garza said.
Police said the investigation into the fatal hit-and-run crash is active and ongoing.
Oak Farms Dairy is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment in the case. Additionally, CrimeStoppers will pay a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment of this or any other felony crime. Callers to CrimeStoppers can remain anonymous. Anyone with information on Castanon's location is asked to call 214-373-TIPS between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers can also immediately contact Detective C. Shinn at 214-671-3605.
The Vasquez family has established a fund to help cover expenses related to the death of Ethan and the injuries to his mother. Anyone who wishes to contribute to that fund can do so at any Citizens National Bank of Texas location.
