Amarillo Teen Charged With Manslaughter For Killing Woman While Racing His Vehicle On I-40

Amarillo teen was racing his vehicle on I-40 when he struck another killing the driver, he now faces up to 20 years in prison for manslaughter.

Edwin Elias Ortiz, 19, was racing his Pontiac G6 on May 5th with an unknown maroon vehicle on I-40 when he struck a Chevrolet Suburban on the passenger side.

Mearlene Hooker Scott, 77, was driving the suburban when it flipped off the side of the highway down the embankment before coming to a stop on the access road.

Ortiz fled the scene and was later found in South Amarillo and arrested, the maroon car whom Ortiz was racing was never found. Onlookers rushed to help Scott, they were able to get her out of the Suburban. A nurse performed CPR on Scott until medical personnel arrived on scene.

Scott was transported to the hospital where she later died.

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Ortiz with manslaughter. According to Amarillo.com: "The manslaughter charge, a second-degree felony, carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The accident charge, a third-degree felony, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.