Bicyclist riding in dark struck, killed by motorist on Cerrillos Road

A man riding a bicycle south on Cerrillos Road was struck and killed by a vehicle around 6:20 p.m. Thursday.

Police did not identify the victim or the man driving the car in the accident, which occurred near Lujan Street. Capt. Marvin Paulk of the Santa Fe Police Department said alcohol was not a factor on the part of the driver.

“It is unknown if the cyclist was under the influence,” Paulk said.

He said a preliminary investigation suggested the cyclist veered out of the safety lane and into the roadway when he was struck. “The cyclist was wearing dark clothing, had no lighting on his bicycle,” Paulk said. “The driver did not see him, and he crashed into him.”

Paulk said it’s imperative for cyclists riding at night to wear brightly colored clothes and use bicycle reflectors so they can be easily seen in the dark.

New Mexico state law requires bicyclists riding at night to equip their bikes with a headlamp on the front and a red reflector on the back.

Paulk said the driver of the vehicle was traumatized by the incident.

Police shut down the southbound lanes of Cerrillos Road from Lujan Street to Maez Road while they investigated the accident. Both of those streets are located south of the intersection at St. Michael’s Drive and Cerrillos Road. Motorists were asked to avoid that area for the rest of the evening Thursday, Paulk said.