A Saturday afternoon ride at San Felipe Park turned deadly for a 52-year-old San Elizario man, according to El Paso County Sheriff's deputies. Deputies found the dirt bike rider with serious injuries and had him taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Authorities have opened an investigation into the crash.
According to KFOX14/CBS4, El Paso County Sheriff's deputies responded to the park at about 12:12 p.m. on Saturday after reports of an off-road vehicle crash. The Sheriff's Office's Special Traffic Investigators took over at the scene. Preliminary findings indicate the rider lost control while negotiating a curve and was dislodged from the bike. He was identified as Pedro Rocha, 52, of San Elizario.
Where the Crash Happened
San Felipe Park is a county-managed off-highway vehicle area popular with dirt bike and ATV riders. The county lists the park's address near 16501 Fabens Carlsbad Rd in Fabens and notes it is used for off-highway vehicle recreation, El Paso County Parks & Recreation states. The crash location is near S. Fabens Road and Carlsbad Road, a stretch riders use for desert runs and practice. The park's official page describes the site as a go-to spot for off-road activity and trail riding.
Investigation and Safety Context
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office outlines the role of its Special Traffic Investigators on its public affairs page, noting the unit investigates serious collisions and traffic fatalities, including off-road vehicle crashes, El Paso County Sheriff's Office records. Deputies told KFOX14/CBS4 the investigation remains active and officials have not released additional information about possible contributing factors. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office nonemergency line at 915-546-2280 or submit a Tip411 report, as noted on the department's public affairs page.
