Plumbing 
In this Leader-News file photo, first responders work the scene of a three-vehicle wreck involving a Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office unit at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and U.S. Highway 83. Witnesses at the scene said the UCSO vehicle, driven by Deputy Paolo Cardenas, who was going off shift, ran the red light, causing the crash on Feb. 14 around 6:10 p.m.
Uvalde resident Rocio M. Rodriguez is suing Uvalde County for $1 million after a deputy sheriff driving a county-owned vehicle reportedly ran a red light while using a phone on Feb. 14, 2023, causing a three-vehicle wreck.
Rodriguez is asking for $250,000 for each of four plaintiffs, herself and her three minor sons in the SUV, totalling $1 million in damages.
The Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the incident.
Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Rene Cordova said the investigation concluded contributing factors for the wreck included the deputy using a cell phone and disregarding a red stop light.
Rodriguez was driving a 2011 GMC Acadia SUV with her sons as passengers and was stopped in the inside lane facing south on U.S. Highway 83, at the intersection with U.S. Highway 90, in the center of Uvalde.
Another driver, Oscar Delgado, was facing south in the outside lane in a 2020 GMC Sierra truck.
Deputy sheriff Paulo Cardenas Jr., driving a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV owned by Uvalde County, was traveling west on U.S. Highway 90. Cardenas, who was going off duty, reportedly ran the red stop light around 6:10 p.m., causing a three-vehicle wreck. Glare from the sun may have been a factor in the wreck.
After the light turned red for east/west bound traffic and green for north/south bound traffic, Cardenas proceeded into the intersection and hit Rodriguez’s SUV, pushing it into Delgado’s truck.
Cardenas reported no injuries at the scene.
Rodriguez and her sons, as well as Delgado, reported injuries and they were transported to Uvalde Memorial Hospital for treatment.
At the time, Cardenas had been working with the sheriff’s office for about two years, serving as a transport officer. He transferred to a patrol deputy position about two months before the crash.
By Feb 24, 2023, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Brandon McCutchen said the sheriff’s office completed an internal investigation and levied disciplinary measures. He did not specify the measures.
McCutchen said in general, if a deputy was found to have caused a traffic accident, they might be removed from the field and assigned to work at the jail, or even terminated from employment, should the situation warrant it.
The RM Jasso Law Firm of Eagle Pass filed Rodriguez’s lawsuit on March 25 of this year in the 38th Judicial District Court.
The lawsuit alleges Cardenas failed to stop and yield the right of way to the plaintiffs, failed to control his speed, failed to take evasive action and was negligent in his operation of the vehicle.
Rodriguez says one son suffered bodily trauma including injuries to his back, neck, and knee. Another had injuries including to his head, ear, shoulder, and elbow, and the third has had muscle spasms since the accident.
Rodriguez asked for a jury trial.
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