San Antonio: Arrest Made in Street Racing Crash That Killed 12-Year-Old

Suspect Arrested in Deadly Street Racing Crash That Killed 12-Year-Old, Injured Others

SAN ANTONIO – A 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a street racing crash on March 17 that resulted in the deaths of a 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man, and left a 66-year-old woman injured. Jose Juan Nagera was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on Sunday, March 22, 2026, facing two charges of injury caused by highway racing, both second-degree felonies.

Details of the Crash

The crash occurred just after 6:30 p.m. On Culebra Road near North Elmendorf Street on the Northwest Side. Investigators determined that a sedan and a black pickup truck were racing when the sedan lost control, crossed into oncoming traffic, and collided with another vehicle.

Victims Identified

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the 12-year-old boy as Jonathan Rivera, who died at the scene from blunt force injuries. The driver of the sedan, 20-year-old Raul Gallegos, who was related to Rivera, was transported to a hospital and later died from his injuries on Thursday, March 20, 2026. A 66-year-old woman driving the other vehicle was also hospitalized; her condition remains unknown as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Investigation and Arrest

Police searched for the driver of the black pickup truck, who fled the scene. Investigators located the suspect’s vehicle and identified it based on witness descriptions and dash camera footage. A traffic stop was conducted, and Jose Juan Nagera was identified as the driver. According to court records, Nagera admitted the truck in the dashcam footage was his, stating he had just left a store, but denied participating in a race. A separate witness identified Nagera as the truck’s owner and stated he had left a nearby gathering shortly before the incident.

Charges and Bond

Nagera’s bond has been set at $100,000, or $50,000 per charge. He remains in custody as of Monday, March 23, 2026. KSAT reports further details regarding the charges.

Fox San Antonio initially reported on the arrest.