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Man killed in West Side crash identified; driver who fled scene charged with manslaughter, SAPD says

Police still searching for other driver involved in crash

Arthur Hugo Ruiz. (Bexar County Jail)

SAN ANTONIO – Officials have identified the man killed in a car crash on the West Side over the weekend and another man accused of fleeing the scene.

According to the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, Victor Zarate Avila, 24, died from blunt force injuries in the crash. His death was ruled an accident.

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Arthur Hugo Ruiz, 27, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter with vehicle, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

The crash was reported around 12:40 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of West Travis and Northwest 24th streets.

According to a San Antonio police preliminary report, a Nissan Sentra traveling south on 24th Street collided with a Chevrolet Silverado traveling west on Travis Street.

Ruiz, the driver of the Chevrolet, had disregarded a stop sign, leading to the crash, police said.

Zarate Avila was a passenger in the Nissan and was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The drivers of both vehicles ran off, according to police.

Ruiz was apprehended by officers a few blocks away from the crash scene. Police said he showed signs of intoxication. He was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

When found, police said the driver of the Nissan will be charged with collision involving death.

The investigation is ongoing.


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Gabby Jimenez is a digital journalist at KSAT. Gabby is a San Antonio native and joined the KSAT team in January 2025. A proud LSU alumna, she has reported for newspapers in Louisiana and Virginia, earning a Virginia Press Association award for Combination Photo and Story in 2024.

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Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.