Elderly Woman Killed After She Is Run Over By Garbage Truck

A 71-year-old woman was killed when she was run over by a garbage truck Tuesday morning, according to El Paso Police officials.

The deadly incident happened at about 7:06 a.m. near the intersection of Radford and Nashville in Central El Paso. That truck was being driven by 52-year-old Perry Pinkney. As Pinkney was backing the truck up, 71-year-old Carmen Loya was crossing Radford street from east to west and was struck by the back of the truck.

Pinkney immediately stopped the truck and checked on the welfare of Loya. Loya was transported to University Medical Center for treatment of her injuries but she died while at the hospital.

“This is a sad and unfortunate tragedy. Our condolences go out to Ms. Loya’s family,” Ellen Smyth, Environmental Services Department Director, said.

Pinkney has been a city employee since 1982 and was put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of routine drug and alcohol testing.

Environmental Services is conducting an internal investigation into the incident and the El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations Unit is investigating the incident and the findings will be forwarded to the District Attorneys Office for review.

Alcohol and speed are not believed to be factors in this crash, according to police officials.

Before Tuesday, it had been more than 20 years since a city solid waste truck was involved in a traffic fatality.