Elderly Woman Killed By Garbage Truck Was Walking To Work
Her family said she loved children, and after working as a seamstress for 40 years, Carmen Loya spent the rest of her life volunteering with kids.
She was on her way to a day care at Fort Bliss when the unthinkable happened. The 71-year-old died after she was hit by a city garbage truck just after 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The crash happened near Radford and Nashville streets, just a few blocks away from the Pershing Gate on the post.
El Paso Police said crews took several hours to collect and clean up the evidence.
Carmen’s family explained she was on her way to do what she loved most. “She adored children and they loved her,” said Milton Gibbs-Barroza, Carmen’s brother.
For 11 years, she volunteered with the program Foster Grandparents. Officials there said Carmen had volunteered more than 10,000 hours of service. She worked with children who have special needs.
Carmen’s brother said the kids would call her grandma and send her cards for every occasion.
They were her joy in life because she never had children of her own, family members told ABC-7.
Carmen’s family said she would walk along Radford Street every morning to go volunteer at a day care on post. Tuesday morning, El Paso police investigators said Carmen crossed the street as a garbage truck was backing up.
“The driver was hysterical. He was just crying. He was shocked, too,” described Olga Peralta. She lives across the street from where the crash happened and called 911.
“I could hear her moaning in pain,” Peralta said.
A few moments later, Carmen was rushed to University Medical Center where she died, police said.
Carmen’s family said they find peace knowing she touched so many lives.
Police said the garbage truck driver who hit carmen is 52-year-old Perry Pinkney. City officials said he’s been working for them since 1982.
Pinkney has been placed on paid administrative leave while Environmental Services conducts an internal investigation.
Police also continue to investigate the details of the crash.
