Motorcyclist killed in wreck after evading state trooper was a Fort Bliss soldier, police say

El Paso Police say the man killed in a motorcycle wreck Sunday morning was an active duty soldier stationed at Fort Bliss.

20-year-old Eric James Merwin was allegedly trying to evade a state trooper while Merwin was riding a 2003 Yamaha motorcycle, police said.

The trooper was attempting to stop Merwin for a traffic infraction, but Merwin allegedly refused to stop and fled, police added.

Merwin lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into a guardrail on Loop 375 South near Montana in Far East El Paso.

Police said Merwin was thrown from the motorcycle after hitting the guardrail and died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision.

This is the 16th fatality this year compared to 17 at this time last year.