Las Cruces police are investigating two separate crashes involving pedestrians since Sunday evening. One of the crashes, Wednesday’s on west Picacho Avenue, was fatal.
Shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, police were called to the crash involving a pedestrian on west Picacho Avenue between Quesenberry Street and 17th Street. The 62-year-old pedestrian succumbed to his injuries on scene.
Traffic investigators learned a black Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling east on Picacho. The pedestrian was walking across Picacho, south to north, when he was struck by the Tahoe. The pedestrian was not in a designated or marked crosswalk.
The 36-year-old driver of the Tahoe remained on scene and has been cooperative with police. Picacho Avenue, between Quesenberry Street and 17th Street, was temporarily closed during the investigation. That portion of the roadway re-opened about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Wednesday’s crash is the sixth fatal pedestrian crash in Las Cruces in 2022 and the second critical incident involving a pedestrian since Sunday evening.
On Sunday, Oct. 30, about 9:30 p.m., police were called to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash near the intersection of Idaho Avenue and Locust Street. Police learned a 36-year-old man was struck by two vehicles and critically injured. The man was transported to University Medical Center of El Paso with injuries that are life-threatening. As of Wednesday, he remains hospitalized in El Paso.
In Sunday’s crash, police learned the pedestrian was first struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was traveling west on Idaho. The investigation has revealed that the Jeep ran a stop sign at Idaho at Locust, briefly drove on the wrong side of the road and onto the sidewalk before striking a rock wall and the pedestrian.
The Jeep left the scene. The 36-year-old pedestrian was on the ground, in the roadway, when he was struck by a second vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle remained on scene and has been cooperative with police.
The Jeep was located, abandoned, sometime after the crash. Police learned the identity of Jeep’s driver and later made contact with her. Criminal charges are pending in Sunday’s crash.
Any witnesses to Sunday’s crash on Idaho Avenue are asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.