Kevin O’Leary dies in fatal Silver City hit-and-run.
Fatal Silver City hit-and-run death of Kevin O’Leary – Obituary.
New Mexico State Police have arrested a man in connection with the tragic death of a Silver City cyclist, Kevin O’Leary, who was killed in a hit-and-run on November 23. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on N.M. 11 near milepost 8. A passing motorist discovered debris and O’Leary’s bicycle off the road and called 911 when they found O’Leary, 69, deceased near the scene.
The driver who caused the crash fled, and there were no immediate witnesses. State Police used crash debris and a be-on-the-lookout alert to identify a red 2011 Cadillac sedan with front-end damage. The vehicle was traced to the Columbus Port of Entry, where it was confirmed that the suspect vehicle had crossed into Mexico shortly after the crash.
The driver was later identified as 33-year-old Noel Ronquillo Jr. He was arrested in Deming on November 25, charged with involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.
O’Leary, a dedicated cyclist, was preparing for his second cycling trip to Mexico and had been an active figure in the Silver City community, remembered fondly by former Mayor Steve May as “an upstanding gentleman and a great neighbor.” Thanks to advanced technology, such as the Automatic License Plate Recognition system, authorities were able to swiftly apprehend Ronquillo, preventing further harm to the public.