NW El Paso hike and bike trail to honor woman’s memory

A new Northwest El Paso hike and bike trail will soon be named in honor of a woman who lost her life after a hit and run several years ago.

In October 2010, Elizabeth Hernandez was hiking along Transmountain near Resler with a friend before she was hit and killed by a car.

In a couple months, the new Loop 375 Transmountain Hike and Bike Trail will be named in her honor.

The busy automotive thoroughfare is also a favorite for hikers and bikers in Northwest El Paso. Several years ago, mother of three Hernandez was hit by a car in the area. She lost her life, and a friend was severely injured.

“She was a great person, you know? Very young and beautiful and great mom, great coworker, friend,” ex-husband Bernardo Hernandez said. He struggled to hold back tears at El Paso City Council Tuesday afternoon, before city representatives voted to name the new hike and bike trail on the north side of Loop 375 Transmountain between Resler and Paseo del Norte the Elizabeth F. Hernandez Memorial Hike and Bike Trail.

“We want to stay healthy, people want to walk and be able to do it safely. Now that the city’s doing these trails it’s just going to be safer for everybody,” Hernandez said.

“Finally we have 375 coming on board soon and it will have a safe jogging lane for people to go on,” District 1 Representative Ann Morgan Lilly said.

Lilly told fellow council members that more than 100 accidents happened on Transmountain in 2010.

As for Bernardo, he was keeping the name of the trail a secret from family members, until now.

“It’s a surprise for my boys and the family. I’ve been keeping this to myself so I’m excited for them to find out.”

Lilly said a marker will be placed at the trail in June and a ceremony will take place. Hernandez left behind three boys, who are now ages 16, 14 and 11.