Rick Ballard And Dalia Olivas Death, Obituary – A tragic incident in El Paso, Texas, has led to the deaths of a Navy veteran and his fiancée, allegedly caused by an Army soldier who was driving under the influence after attending a gender reveal party. Juan Francisco Del Valle Ferrer, 25, an Army Sergeant stationed at Fort Bliss, is accused of causing the crash that killed Rick Ballard, 28, and Dalia Olivas, also 28, on the night of November 2.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Del Valle Ferrer was driving his Honda HR-V when he ran a red light and crashed into Ballard and Olivas’ Mercedes at approximately 11:37 p.m. The collision was violent; Ballard was ejected from the vehicle with such force that his leg was severed, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Olivas, an English teacher at Triumph High School, was critically injured and later died at a local hospital.
Del Valle Ferrer, who allegedly reeked of alcohol when officers arrived, told police he had consumed a large amount of booze at a nearby gender reveal party before the accident. He was wearing a blue wristband from the event at the time of the crash. Del Valle Ferrer sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Witnesses reported seeing Del Valle Ferrer’s vehicle accelerate through a red light, hitting the couple’s car without warning. Ballard’s and Olivas’ families have expressed outrage over the reckless actions that led to their deaths. Del Valle Ferrer has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter and remains in custody at the El Paso County Jail.
The community mourns the loss of two promising lives, as both families remember their loved ones’ warmth, commitment, and bright futures.
