A two vehicle crash late Sunday on Highway 70 claimed the life of a 37-year-old motorcyclist and sent one passenger of a sport utility vehicle to the hospital.
Timothy Garcia of Las Cruces was pronounced dead shortly after emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the crash that occurred at around 10 p.m. Sunday, March 22, on Highway 70 near Sonoma Ranch Boulevard.
A 42-year-old passenger of a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe that was struck by Garcia’s motorcycle was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso with a laceration to her head. She was listed in stable condition Monday morning.
Las Cruces Police traffic investigators believe Garcia was headed eastbound on Highway 70 at a high rate of speed when his 2006 Honda motorcycle struck the rear of the Chevy Tahoe. Garcia was not wearing a helmet and succumb to multiple injuries.
The force of the collision caused the Tahoe to spin, strike the median cable barriers and roll onto its side. The 42-year-old woman was the front seat passenger of the Tahoe and was injured during the partial rollover. The 40-year-old driver of the Tahoe and his two other passengers, a 1-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, were not injured.
Excessive speed and alcohol may be contributing factors in the crash. No charges are expected against the driver of the Tahoe.
The crash closed the eastbound lanes of Highway 70 above Sonoma Ranch Boulevard for several hours while traffic investigators collected evidence and cleared the area.
Information from Las Cruces Police