Springer woman dies in accident

A Springer woman was killed while riding on a motorcycle late Friday afternoon.

Antonia Bernal, 59, was on the motorcycle behind Steven J. Duran, also of Springer. The accident happened just as Las Vegas’ annual Rough Rider Motorcycle Rally was beginning.

Bernal died shortly after the crash.

Around 4:30 p.m., the pair were struck by Nico Barela, 18, 139-1/2 Independence St., Las Vegas police said. He was making a right turn from Baca Avenue onto Grand Avenue near KFC restaurant. A van was next to him preparing either to go straight or make a left turn, police said. Barela struck Bernal and Duran while making a right turn onto Grand, officials said.

Barela then fled, heading west on Baca, where he had come from, police said. He was apprehended shortly after.

Police Chief Gary Gold said this morning that authorities plan to charge Barela with vehicular homicide, failure to render aid, tampering with evidence and driving with a suspended license. Police said he hadn’t been eligible for reinstatement of his license.

The police plan to turn in a probable cause statement to Magistrate Court this morning.

Gold said officers suspect that Barela fled the site of the accident because he feared the consequences of driving with a suspended license.

“He made things worse for himself. He should have rendered aid. It’s your moral duty,” Gold said. “Why not help out? You can deal with your suspended license later.”

Gold said police couldn’t detect any alcohol on Barela’s breath. The suspect took a blood test at the hospital after the accident. The results from the blood test won’t come back for a while, the chief said.

Police closed off the street near the crash for a while after the accident. Another accident occurred around the same time at Eighth Street and Mills Avenue.