The bicyclist struck by a vehicle Feb. 29 on Lohman Avenue succumbed to his injuries Saturday at University Medical Center of El Paso.
Source: City of Las Cruces
Shortly after 7 p.m. on Feb. 29, 2024, 47-year-old Roy Parra was riding a mountain bike and pulling a small bicycle trailer east on the northside sidewalk of Lohman Avenue, crossing I-25, when he was struck by a silver Ford Mustang. Parra was thrown from the bicycle over the Lohman overpass and onto a rock retaining wall below.
Parra was transported to UMC with injuries that, at the time, were believed to be non-life-threatening. Parra died Saturday at UMC.
Las Cruces Police Department traffic investigators learned the Ford Mustang, driven by 27-year-old Emily Elizabeth Portillo, was traveling at a high rate of speed as it exited Interstate 25 and attempted to turn west onto Lohman Avenue. Portillo failed to negotiate the turn and crashed head-on into Parra.
Alcohol and speed were believed to be contributing factors in the crash.
Portillo was arrested and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on initial charges of aggravated DWI and reckless driving. The initial charges will be amended after the passing of Parra.
