Leilani Solis Killed in Stolen Vehicle Crash at Young Park: Driver Charged with Homicide

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — The community of Las Cruces is reeling after a tragic incident at Young Park over the weekend resulted in the death of a woman. According to the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), the woman was riding in a stolen vehicle with three teenagers at the time of the crash, leaving authorities scrambling to gather all the necessary information.

The chain of events leading up to the fatal accident started on Saturday morning when the owner of a Hyundai Tucson contacted the police to report the vehicle as stolen. Little did they know that this report would set in motion a series of encounters between law enforcement and the stolen SUV.

Throughout the day, LCPD officers spotted the stolen Hyundai on three different occasions and attempted to initiate traffic stops. However, each time, the driver ignored the officers’ signals and evaded capture. In order to prioritize public safety, the police decided against engaging in high-speed pursuits.

As fate would have it, later in the evening, the vehicle’s owner spotted her stolen SUV at Young Park. Acting quickly, she contacted the authorities and valiantly tried to confront the teenagers inside. However, instead of cooperating, the youths chose to accelerate away from the scene, heading onto Walnut Street.

In a chilling turn of events, the stolen vehicle re-entered the park’s parking lot and started tailing the owner, who was on foot. Tragically, during this pursuit, the driver lost control of the SUV whilst making a turn, causing it to roll over. The 20-year-old woman, identified as Leilani Solis, was ejected from the vehicle, and the SUV came to a rest on top of her. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

The three teenagers, all boys aged 16 and 15, fled the scene after the crash. While the police were able to apprehend the 16-year-old driver and one of the 15-year-old passengers, the search for the remaining passenger is still ongoing.

Following their capture, the 16-year-old driver now faces a multitude of charges, including homicide by vehicle, child abuse, aggravated fleeing from an officer, 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. As he is a minor, his identity is being withheld by authorities.

The LCPD wasted no time in ensuring that justice is served, booking the 16-year-old into the juvenile section of the Dona Ana County Detention Center. However, the community remains shaken by the tragic loss of Leilani Solis, a young life cut short due to the reckless actions of others.

As investigations continue, Las Cruces mourns the loss of a community member and calls for stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The tragic events serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of responsible driving and the need for effective measures to combat vehicle theft..