Maria Trejo died after being struck near Red Bluff Road and Burke Road during her morning walk.
PASADENA, TX — A man was arrested Tuesday after a hit-and-run crash killed Maria Trejo, a woman relatives said was walking her usual route for morning coffee near Red Bluff Road and Burke Road, Pasadena police said.
Police said the crash happened around 6 a.m. Tuesday. Trejo was taken to a hospital after emergency crews treated her at the scene, but she died hours later from her injuries. Investigators arrested 43-year-old Silvestre Martinez Rivera later that day and charged him with failure to stop and render aid, a felony.
Relatives said Trejo often walked from her home along Burke Road to a nearby gas station for coffee. On Tuesday morning, they said, she never made it across the street. Aerial video from the scene showed emergency crews working to stabilize her before she was taken for medical care. The crash left family members grieving at Trejo’s home later in the day as police moved quickly from the crash scene to an arrest.
Surveillance video from the convenience store Trejo often visited appeared to show the moments before the crash. The video was dark because it was recorded before sunrise, but it appeared to show Trejo walking across the street before a dark-colored truck hit her and kept going. Police have not said whether the video was the key evidence that led them to Rivera, and investigators have not released the full chain of events that ended with his arrest.
The intersection area near Red Bluff Road and Burke Road became the focus of the investigation as officers worked to identify the vehicle and driver. Police announced by Tuesday afternoon that Rivera had been taken into custody. Authorities have not said whether he knew Trejo, where he was arrested or whether the truck seen in the video was recovered. The investigation remained open, and police had not released more details about the crash reconstruction.
Trejo’s death drew an immediate response from relatives, who gathered at her home and described her morning walk as part of a routine. Family members were too emotional to speak on camera, but they said they were thankful police had made an arrest so quickly. The crash also left unanswered questions about what happened in the seconds before impact, including the vehicle’s speed, whether Trejo was in a crosswalk and why the driver did not stop.
Failure to stop and render aid is filed when a driver is accused of leaving after a crash involving injury or death. In this case, police said Rivera was accused of striking Trejo and leaving the scene. Court records and future police updates are expected to show whether prosecutors add or change charges as investigators review video, witness statements and evidence from the vehicle.
The case now moves from the first stage of the police investigation into the court process. Rivera’s first court setting, bond status and plea information were not immediately available in the initial report. Police said the investigation was ongoing, meaning detectives may still seek more video, interview witnesses and complete reports for prosecutors.
By Tuesday night, Trejo’s relatives were mourning a woman they said had simply set out for coffee on a route she knew well. Police had one suspect in custody, but key details about how detectives found him and what led to the crash had not been made public.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.