3 Valencia County residents charged after El Cerro hit-and-run crash

A bicyclist remains in critical but stable condition after a hit-and-run near El Cerro Loop Road and Winchester Lane, and three Valencia County residents now face charges after investigators say the crash was followed by a delayed report, a hidden vehicle and a warrant seizure.

The bicyclist has been identified as Adrian Cuevas, 32, who was struck from behind on the east side of El Cerro Loop Road on the evening of Wednesday, May 13. Deputies said Cuevas was riding a bicycle when a black 2014 Toyota Camry registered to Crystal Lopez hit him. He was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where he remained in critical but stable condition.

The Valencia County Sheriff's Office was asked to help with the case on Friday, May 15, the same day a delayed hit-and-run report reached the agency’s administrative office. Crystal Lopez and Julian Lopez went to the office and were interviewed, and investigators later said the crash sequence began when Julian Lopez, driving north on El Cerro Loop around 10:22 p.m., swerved after a southbound SUV moved into his path. Deputies allege the bicyclist was then struck by the Camry and that Julian Lopez left the scene without rendering aid.

Investigators also say Crystal Lopez and Rachel Silguero later met Julian Lopez near La Ladera Road, returned to the crash scene and then went home, placing the Camry in the garage before deputies seized it under search warrant. KRQE and KKOB reported that warrants were issued for Julian Lopez, Crystal Lopez and Rachel Silguero after the investigation developed.

Crystal Lopez, 41, was charged with tampering with evidence, two counts of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and resisting, evading and obstructing. Silguero, 34, was charged with the same offenses plus submitting a false report. Julian Lopez, 17, faced charges tied to the crash and the duty to render aid. KRQE reported that one suspect was being held at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center and the two adults were being held at the Valencia County Detention Center.

The case carries weight beyond one collision on a rural stretch of road. UNM’s traffic-crash reporting system compiles county crash data from law-enforcement reports for safety analysis, and state crash records are used to study injury severity and contributing factors. For Valencia County, the facts in this case highlight the stakes for bicyclists on El Cerro roads: a serious injury, a suspected hit-and-run and allegations that evidence was moved before deputies could secure it.