Army Sergeant Charged with Intoxication Manslaughter in Fatal Crash Killing Navy Veteran and Fiancée
Principal Francisco Chavez/Gofundme
A tragic incident unfolded in El Paso, Texas, when an intoxicated Army sergeant allegedly caused a fatal car crash that claimed the lives of Navy veteran Rick Ballard, 28, and his fiancée, Dalia Olivas, 28, on November 2. The accused driver, 25-year-old Juan Francisco Del Valle Ferrer, reportedly consumed a significant amount of alcohol at a gender reveal party before driving his Honda HR-V through a red light and colliding with the couple’s Mercedes at an intersection, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents reveal the violent nature of the crash, which occurred around 11:37 p.m. The impact caused the Mercedes to spin out and slam into a light pole. Ballard was ejected from the car with such force that he sustained severe injuries, including the traumatic amputation of his right leg, which was found inside the vehicle. Olivas, an English teacher at Triumph High School in El Paso, was seated in the passenger seat. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Del Valle Ferrer, a U.S. Army Sergeant stationed at Fort Bliss, was allegedly highly intoxicated when police arrived at the scene. Witnesses described a smell of alcohol, and according to the arrest affidavit, Del Valle Ferrer admitted to consuming “a lot” at the gender reveal party before the crash. He was found wearing a blue wristband from the event, indicating his attendance. Del Valle Ferrer reportedly sped through a red light without hesitation, colliding with the Mercedes in what witnesses described as a “reckless” action, told KFOX14.
He was also injured in the crash and taken to the hospital before being booked into the El Paso County Jail. The collision occurred roughly 15 miles from Fort Bliss, where Del Valle Ferrer is based. Following the crash, Del Valle Ferrer was charged with two counts of intoxication and manslaughter. He is currently being held on a $520,000 bond.
The families of both victims expressed their heartbreak and anger at Del Valle Ferrer’s “reckless actions” through GoFundMe pages created for funeral expenses. Ballard’s family described him as a hardworking individual who split his time between his home in Florida and El Paso, where he frequently visited family. “His death is too soon, and his entire family could use your love and support,” they wrote.
Olivas’ sister, Diana Villalobos, paid tribute to her as a vibrant, compassionate person “full of life” with “a heart of gold.” The loss has left her family devastated. Olivas was in her second year of teaching English at Triumph High School, where her principal, Francisco Chavez, spoke warmly of her. Chavez shared that Olivas had told him over the summer that she and Ballard planned to move to Florida, marking this school year as her last. Her aspirations and life plans were cut short by the tragedy.
This tragic accident highlights the profound consequences of driving under the influence, especially as the families of Ballard and Olivas mourn the loss of two young lives filled with promise. The incident has left the El Paso community in shock, and the case against Del Valle Ferrer now proceeds as he faces serious charges for his actions.
