Big Spring woman killed after pickup crashes into motel building

BIG SPRING — A woman died after a pickup truck struck a commercial building. The crash occurred about 5:01 a.m. June 5 at the Deluxe Inn, in the 400 block of North Gregg Street, according to the Big Spring Police Department. When officers arrived, they found a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck that had struck the building and was partially lodged inside the office area. During the investigation, officers found that Vaishali Patel, 46, had been asleep inside the building at the time of the crash. Patel was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Kandi Campbell. Her next of kin has been notified. The Big Spring Police Department said a preliminary investigation indicated the driver of the GMC was traveling south in the 500 block of North Lamesa Street when he failed to maintain a single lane of travel, crossed into the opposing lane and collided with the west side of the building. The driver was identified as Alonso Moreno, 21. Moreno was transported by ambulance to Shannon Medical Center Emergency Department in Big Spring for medical evaluation and treatment. He was later released. Big Spring police said the investigation is ongoing as law enforcement works to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and whether criminal charges will be filed. No additional information has been released. The Texas Department of Public Safety was notified and is assisting with the investigation.