At around 11:30 p.m. this past Wednesday on the 8700 block of Interstate 10 East—between North Foster Road and Farm-to-Market 1516 on San Antonio’s East Side—two young men allegedly racing their BMWs triggered a horrific crash that cost the life of 33-year-old Robert Espinoza.
Investigators from the San Antonio Police Department say a white BMW M4 and a BMW 3 Series were side-by-side in the fast lanes when the M4 struck Espinoza’s Nissan from behind. The impact sent the Nissan flipping over several times before coming to rest in the traffic lanes, while the M4 barreled into a concrete barrier and the 3-Series fled the scene.
Espinoza was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he was later pronounced dead. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as the victim on Saturday; however, the official cause and manner of death are still under review.
The two accused racers have been named by police: 20-year-old Kyle Jin Liu and 20-year-old Evan Moreno. Both were booked into the Bexar County Jail on charges of racing resulting in serious bodily injury. Because the crash ultimately resulted in a death, authorities say additional charges may now be filed. They were released on Saturday, though details about their release remain sealed.
Members of the community and law-enforcement officers note that this stretch of I-10 East has become a recurrent hotspot for illicit street races, especially late at night when the roads are less busy. Police said they are reviewing surveillance video, crash-data recordings, and witness reports in hopes of reconstructing exactly how the deadly chain reaction unfolded.
Friends and family of Espinoza describe him as a kind, dependable man who loved life and was looking forward to building a brighter future for his loved ones. As they mourn, authorities are urging anyone with dash-cam footage, eyewitness video or relevant information to contact SAPD’s Traffic Investigations Division or San Antonio Crime Stoppers. Illegal racing, they stress, is not a victim-less thrill.
In a city grappling with the consequences of high-speed reckless driving, this tragic incident serves as a sharp reminder: moments of thrill can turn to lifelong heartbreak in the blink of an eye.