ValleyCentral Wrapped: Top 10 most watched videos of the year

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — ValleyCentral dedicates itself to bringing the community news you can trust.

Our viewers can count on ValleyCentral to bring you news on broadcast, written and video formats.

Here are our top 10 most-watched videos based on viewership.

10. Former Kumbia Kings member, PeeWee arrested in Edinburg, records show

Irvin Salinas, former co-singer of the popular 2000s cumbia group Kumbia Kings was arrested, according to Hidalgo County Jail records.

Salinas was booked and charged with driving while intoxicated.

At 7 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2024, a Hidalgo County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white GMC Sierra for driving 71 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint stated that the deputy ordered a field sobriety test that Salinas failed.

Salinas, also known as PeeWee, was a former member of the Kumbia Kings and performed Latin hits such as “Mi Niña Bonita” and “Na Na Na.”

He was issued a bond of $1,500 and was released later that day.

9. Pharr mother wants answers after child struck, killed by vehicle

An 8-year-old boy, Caleb, was laid to rest on May 2 after being struck and killed while riding his bike.

His mother has been trying to get answers from Pharr police on how inaccurate information was released to the media and not corrected for days despite investigators having video evidence.

The 4 Investigates team was working for Caleb’s family to understand where the misinformation came from and why the driver was not charged.

To learn more about this story click here.

8. PD: 1 killed, 1 hospitalized after San Juan crash

On March 26, the San Juan Police Department responded to a fatal crash that left one man dead and another hospitalized.

The head-on collision occurred at the intersection of FM 495 and Raul Longoria Road.

Authorities identified the driver as 22-year-old Roberto Carlos Rios of San Juan. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other driver was transported to a local hospital for their injuries.

7. DPS: 2 dead in Alamo 4 vehicle crash

On April 23, the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to a fatal multi-vehicle crash that left two people dead.

According to a release from Texas DPS, the incident occurred at 9:43 a.m. near FM 907 and Texas Road.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a red Ford Escape, occupied by a woman and a passenger, was traveling eastbound on Texas Road.

Simultaneously, a red Nissan Versa was driving southbound on FM 907 and a brown Cadillac SRX, driven by a man, was heading northbound on FM 907.

DPS stated. the driver of the Ford Escape failed to yield at the stop sign and collided with the Nissan Versa.

This caused the Versa to side-swipe the Cadillac, causing it to veer off the southeast corner of FM 907 and Texas Road, engulfing it in flames.

To learn more about this story click here.

6. McAllen ISD: Nikki Rowe student dies days after underage drinking pool party

McAllen ISD officials announced the death of a Nikki Rowe student who was identified as the victim in a house party where alcohol was being served to minors.

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of one of our students,” the district wrote. “Adan De La Cruz, a senior at Rowe High School, passed away today. He was a wonderful young man, very well-liked, and much admired by his peers. He will be missed but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.”

The McAllen Police Department also confirmed the young man's death, stating the following:

“We received notice from medical personnel of the passing of this young person,” the police department stated. “This event is very tragic and our sincerest sympathies go out to Adan’s family and student body. This incident highlights the risk involved when alcohol is consumed and when people make alcohol available to people who should not have access to it. As such, the McAllen Police Department continues its public safety efforts in holding people accountable. The case investigation remains ongoing and will lead us to conclude if accountability can be established. This truly tragic set of circumstances becomes a factor that may affect charging in the investigation process. It is a sad day for our McAllen community to learn of this outcome.”

To learn more about this story click here.

5. DPS: Woman killed by wrong-way drunk driver on causeway

A woman was killed after a McAllen man was driving on the wrong way of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway, Texas Department of Public Safety said.

According to a news release, the two-vehicle crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. on June 2, on the eastbound lanes of the causeway.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2023 white Ford F-150, driven by 48-year-old Hugo Ernesto Lara of McAllen, was going westbound on the eastbound lane.

The release stated, that Lara crashed into a 2008 red Kia passenger car, driven by 20-year-old Mariah Desiree Enriquez of Edinburg, who was traveling eastbound on the causeway.

Enriquez died at the scene of the accident. Lara was arrested and charged with intoxication and manslaughter.

He was then transferred to the Cameron County Jail and was arraigned at 9:38 a.m. Lara was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and given a bond of $350,000.

4. Rotten avocados, expired meat found at McAllen Steakhouse

The Food Patrol visits Winecow Argentina Steak House located at 4900 W. Expy 83 #380A in McAllen is struck with numerous violations.

Winecow didn’t do so hot on their Feb. 1 inspection, so the Food Patrol returned a couple of weeks later to see if they’d cleaned up.

However, there were more issues with this visit than the last one.

The Food Patrol found avocados so hard you could hammer a nail with them. There was also expired meat in their refrigerator.

They welcomed the Food Patrol back any other time, promising they would have the place cleaned up.

However, they might be unable to keep their word due to being understaffed.

3. Wing restaurant sets record for kicking out Food Patrol

Remember, the Food Patrol is always watching! In this episode, the Food Patrol went to Gigi's Wing Shack located at 587 South Sam Houston Blvd. in San Benito not once, but twice.

Gigi’s first inspection was on Feb. 1, with 26 violations out of 74.

They were hit for hand contamination, food being touched without gloves, off-temperature foods, wrong dates and descriptions on food, toxic substances not being properly identified and a slew of good retail practice violations.

There was an improvement on their Feb. 14 re-inspection with 7 out of 93 violations. They were still hit with repeated violations like bare-hand food contact and not properly washing their hands.

All these violations can make a customer sick from contamination.

The first time the Food Patrol visited the owner was not there, but we did speak with Gigi over the phone and she agreed to have us back at a later date.

The Food Patrol did come back a week later and she let them know she was no longer interested in participating.

2. Shark sighting on SPI after attack (Video courtesy Luis Silva)

On July 4, a viewer submitted a video of a shark sighting following an attack.

1. U.S. Coast Guard warns of ‘multiple’ shark attacks, sightings at South Padre Island

On July 4, South Padre Island officials confirmed one person was transported to a hospital following a severe shark attack.

The first reported shark attack happened at approximately 11 a.m. along Beach Access 14, near Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill.

South Padre Island police and fire departments provided immediate treatment to the victim.

Eyewitnesses told ValleyCentral the chaos and aftermath that endured during the first reported shark attack.

“The lifeguards were trying to get people out of the water and everyone’s yelling to come out,” Ashley Silva said. “It was a pretty scary sight with all the blood and everything.”

The U.S. Coast Guard advised beachgoers at SPI to not go into the water after two confirmed shark bite incidents and two additional encounters were reported.

The U.S. Coast Guard added that multiple sharks were seen near the shoreline.