On Sunday, May 12, at approximately 10:30 pm, officers of the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) responded to an incident at the intersection of East Broadway and South Turner. Forty-three-year-old pedestrian Leroy Gonzales, a Hobbs resident, had been struck by a vehicle. “Through investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Gonzales was in the roadway when a maroon pickup, driven by a juvenile, collided with Mr. Gonzales,” states a HPD press release.
The press release further documents that “…life saving measures were performed on-scene until medics arrived. Mr. Gonzales was then transported to the Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.”
According to a KOAT 7 Action News report, Casey and Leroy Gonzales, husband and wife, were hanging out at the Sunday Night Broadway Cruise. The Cruise is a tradition in Hobbs where people drive down Broadway Street. While at the Cruise Mr. Gonzales was flying his drone, an activity he loved. Mrs. Gonzales told KOAT that her husband’s drone “lost connection” and “he went to look for it”. Mrs. Gonzales followed her husband.
In her account Mrs. Gonzales said, “I lost sight of him, and I’m kind of looking for him. I hear tire squealing like somebody pulling out, and then I hear chaos. Everybody starts yelling. I could hear people banging on the truck, saying, stop, stop. And I’m like, something happened. And I knew it in my heart that something had happened to him.”
Mrs. Gonzales continued, “I honestly don’t know what’s going on as far as the investigation. I know [Leroy] was drug about half a block.” Mrs. Gonzales also told KOAT that the teenage driver of the maroon pickup “… didn’t try to stop until the people started, like the kids in the area, actually made him stop. When he did stop, he took off running, and the kids that were there, they grabbed him and wouldn’t let him leave the scene.”
HPD Issues Public Service Announcement About The Sunday Night Cruise
Earlier this month on Friday, May 3, HPD issued a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about the Sunday Night Broadway Cruise. The PSA notes that the event has existed for years and that it will continue to exist for years if “…we ensure we are being respectful and safe. Damage to property, littering, and ‘burnouts’ are some of the most common issues that accompany the cruise.” … “Even the most experienced drivers can lose control of a vehicle very quickly when doing burn-outs or revving engines. Mistakes can be made and people can get seriously hurt or even killed.” Unfortunately, HPD’s words of caution became a reality last Sunday night.
About today’s “Cruise” Mrs. Gonzales told KOAT, “It’s not like when we were kids, and everybody drove really slow, hung out on the corners and just hung out with your friends. [Today] you’ve got kids riding on the roofs of cars. You’ve got kids hanging out of windows, sitting on the windows and people doing peel outs trying to fishtail with their kids sitting on the car..”
HPD Issues Second PSA Announcing Enhanced Traffic Enforcement
The dangers of today’s “Cruise” may be in some part responsible for HPD’s issuance of a second PSA about traffic safety in Hobbs. On Wednesday, May 8 HPD informed the public that during the month of May the department is partnering with the New Mexico State Patrol “to conduct enhanced traffic enforcement throughout the City of Hobbs.” The PSA states that the enhanced enforcement is in response to citizens’ concerns about “…speeding, careless and reckless driving with a serious objective to reduce the increasing amount of traffic related incidents, crashes and injuries within the city.” Area residents like Bill Hammond are appreciative of HPD’s actions. Hammond states on Facebook, “Thank you for listening. People are out of control.”
As of this writing the HPD has confirmed that no one is currently in custody regarding the fatal crash that resulted in the death of Mr. Gonzales. “I feel like I don’t understand how there is nobody in custody,” stated Mrs Gonzales. “My husband is gone. I’m angry because they know who it was. They know who was driving.” … “And nobody is being held responsible.” Neither the HPD nor the City of Hobbs has responded to requests for additional information about the incident.
