Lamesa Police Arrest Aaron Aguilar After Maribel Perez Is Killed on U.S. 180 West

 Maribel Perez, 39, died Saturday after she was struck by a vehicle on U.S. 180 West in Lamesa, Texas. Lamesa police responded shortly before 1:15 a.m. to the 2400 block of U.S. 180 West after receiving a report involving a pedestrian. Officers found Perez lying in the roadway, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial account identifies a white Ford Mustang as the vehicle that struck her, while the driver reportedly left without stopping. The crash has left her family facing a sudden loss as investigators work to establish what happened.

The early-morning crash brought police to U.S. 180 West as investigators began documenting what had happened. Publicly released information does not provide a detailed account of Perez’s movements before the collision or explain the events immediately leading to the impact. It also does not establish factors such as roadway conditions, speed, visibility, or other circumstances. Keeping those details separate from confirmed information is important while the investigation remains active.

The case developed quickly after the initial response. Approximately four hours after Perez was found, Lamesa police located the suspected vehicle. Authorities found the white Ford Mustang at a residence, and 27-year-old Aaron Aguilar was arrested. He was booked into the Dawson County Detention Center. The discovery of the vehicle and arrest marked a significant development, but an arrest is not a final determination of responsibility.

Aguilar faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and failure to render aid resulting in death. Those charges are allegations, not convictions, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The criminal case will proceed through the legal system. Authorities have not publicly established a final account of every circumstance surrounding the crash, and additional information may emerge as investigators continue their work.

For Perez’s loved ones, legal questions cannot change the reality of her death. At 39, she was part of a life filled with relationships, memories, responsibilities, and plans that are not described in the available account. Public information does not provide verified details about her work, interests, family relationships, or personal history. Rather than filling those gaps with assumptions, it is more respectful to recognize what is known: Maribel Perez lost her life in a sudden roadway collision, leaving people close to her to grieve.

Fatal pedestrian crashes can leave families searching for answers that may take time to establish. Investigators must determine how the collision occurred, document evidence, and evaluate what followed. In this case, the reported departure of the Mustang and its later location became central developments. The charges against Aguilar reflect allegations that authorities will have to support through the legal process. Until those proceedings are complete, responsibility should not be described beyond what has been officially established.

Maribel Perez’s death has reduced a complex human life to a few painful facts in a police investigation: a 39-year-old woman was found in the roadway, a white Ford Mustang was identified as the vehicle involved, and an arrest followed hours later. Yet for her family and friends, Maribel was far more than the circumstances of her death. She was someone whose absence will be felt in everyday moments and memories. As investigators continue examining the crash, those who loved her are left to mourn while waiting for the story to emerge.