A Wednesday morning commute in far East El Paso turned deadly when a 67-year-old bicyclist crashed into a tree and later died from his injuries, according to police. The collision happened near North Zaragoza Road and New World Drive and drew a response from the El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations unit, which shut down the area while crews worked the scene.
What officials say
According to KFOX, a police spokesperson later confirmed the bicyclist had died. The department said the case will not be counted as a traffic death because the impact occurred off the roadway. KFOX reports investigators are still gathering details about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Response and road closures
Local ABC affiliate KVIA reported that officers were called out at about 8:39 a.m. and initially described the rider’s condition as serious. Northbound lanes on Zaragoza near New World Drive were closed for several hours while Special Traffic Investigators documented the scene and cleared the area.
Scene details
The El Paso Times (republished by AOL) noted red crime-scene tape blocking the street in front of a Pets Barn near the Zaraplex shopping center, and local television outlets published photos showing officers working behind the tape. Authorities have not released the bicyclist’s name or other personal details.
Bike lanes and long-term fixes
Longstanding plans for Zaragoza Road include widening the corridor and adding dedicated bicycle lanes and sidewalks, according to TxDOT. The projects are intended to improve safety on FM 659 (Zaragoza Road), although many segments remain under study or in early design stages.
Investigation ongoing
The Special Traffic Investigations unit is leading the probe into the fatal crash, and officials say more information will be released as it becomes available, per KFOX. Investigators are expected to closely review the scene, speak with any witnesses and look at any available video as they work to understand what happened.
