A single-vehicle rollover crash in the parking lot of Young Park claimed the life of a young woman and resulted in the arrest of the 16-year-old driver of the stolen sport utility vehicle.
Shortly after midnight on Nov. 18, Las Cruces police and fire were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash in the parking lot of Young Park. A 20-year-old woman was ejected during the rollover and the stolen 2017 Hyundai Tucson came to a rest on top of her.
The woman, identified as Leilani Solis, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators learned the Hyundai was reported stolen earlier in the day. Three times during the day, LCPD officers spotted the stolen Hyundai and attempted traffic stops on the SUV. Each time the driver failed to stop for police and officers declined to engage in a pursuit.
At close to midnight, the owner of the vehicle happened to spot her SUV at Young Park. She called police and tried to confront the youths when they sped away and onto Walnut Street. The vehicle re-entered the parking lot and started following the owner who was on foot. The driver of the stolen vehicle once again accelerated but, this time, struck a curb during a turn and rolled over.
After the rollover, the 16-year-old driver and two 15-year-old passengers, all boys, fled on foot from the crash. Police located and detained the driver and one of the 15-year-olds. The second 15-year-old passenger has yet to be located.
The 16-year-old driver was charged with homicide by vehicle, two counts of child abuse, three counts of aggravated fleeing from an officer, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, failure to report a crash, failure to render aid, criminal damage to property and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.
The 16-year-old was booked into the juvenile section of the Dona Ana County Detention Center. Because of his age, police will not be identifying him publicly.
At this point, no charges have been filed against the two 15-year-old boys who were passengers of the stolen vehicle.