El Paso's streets witnessed tragedy once more as the city recorded its 66th traffic fatality of the year in the early hours of December 13th. According to the City of El Paso, from the El Paso Police Department, Special Traffic Investigators responded to a grim scene where a motorcycle collided with a truck resulting in fatal consequences. The investigations indicated a 2022 Ram truck turned onto Castellano from N. Mesa Street, directly into the path of a southbound 2007 Suzuki motorcycle which subsequently led to the motorcyclist being violently thrown off the vehicle.
Following the collision, the Ram truck continued its inadvertent path of destruction and struck part of the Angry Owl business establishment the motorcycle, incidentally, had been previously reported stolen, adding a layer of complexity to an already intricate event. The driver of the truck, identified as Shepherd, was arrested and charged, having been booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility for the collision that the police attribute, at least in part, to a red-light violation.
2019's number of traffic fatalities, which stood at 75, serves as a grim reminder as this year's count inches closer. While lower in comparison, it's a margin that is slim comfort to a community that continues to face loss on the roads of El Paso. The El Paso Police Department, which seeks to find answers in these moments of despair, reiterates the need for more vigilance on the city’s thoroughfares to prevent such tragedies.
