Pharr man, 71, sentenced to 5 years of probation for fatal crash

A 71-year-old Pharr man received five years of probation Monday for running a red light and causing a fatal crash that killed a woman in the city of Hidalgo, District Attorney Toribio "Terry" Palacios said.

Javier Garza pleaded guilty to criminal negligent homicide and charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury were dismissed, court records show.

The fatal crash that killed Dolores Acevedo happened on Feb. 2, 2025.

On that day, Acevedo was a passenger in her daughter's vehicle. Her daughter, Rosario Navarro, was driving them to their home when she turned eastbound on Dicker Road from South 23rd Street on a protected green arrow, according to a probable cause affidavit.

At the time, Garza was traveling northbound on 23rd Street toward the same intersection, which was displaying a red light to northbound traffic.

Garza disregarded that red light and crashed into Navarro's vehicle, causing it to roll over twice.

Navarro suffered several broken bones while Acevedo died at the scene, according to the affidavit.

When investigators obtained a search warrant for Garza's vehicle, they learned he was traveling 60 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and didn't use his brakes at the red light.

As for Garza's sentence, he was also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service, court records show.

------

Editor's note: This story and its headline have been updated to reflect Javier Garza's correct sentence.

Featured Local Savings

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.