By Roger Lanse
At approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, Brian Robinson, 45, of Silver City, was hit by a white 1997 Jeep SUV while he was riding his bicycle on Pinos Altos Road (Highway 15) in the vicinity of the veterinary clinic.
According to a Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority CAD call narrative, Silver City Police Department officers advised that a 45-year-old male had been hit by a vehicle and was on the ground. At first, officers were unsure if Robinson was alive, as he had "traumatic injuries," was barely breathing, and did not look well.
Officers, the narrative said, called for an ambulance with high priority recommended. EMS responded with two ambulances.
According to police documents, Robinson was transported to Gila Regional Medical Center with severe injuries and airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso. Staff at Robinson's office told the Beat on Monday, May 11, only that he was still at UMC-El Paso and in stable condition.
Police documents identify the driver of the Jeep as 85-year-old Dorothy Spangler of Pinos Altos. According to those documents, officers determined that the remains of Robinson's bicycle had been dragged 3-4 miles where it was found in "shambles," and that officers were with Spangler at MM 9 on Highway 15, about 3 miles above Pinos Altos.
The Jeep sustained heavy damage to the right side of its windshield and top, and the right side rear view mirror was hanging from the vehicle, the documents said.
A Grant County Sheriff's Department deputy on scene at MM 9 with two motorcyclists, told SCPD officers that the motorcyclists were traveling south on Highway 15 when they saw the Jeep dragging a bicycle underneath it. When the motorcyclists arrived at the crash site they realized the white vehicle they encountered had hit a bike rider, so they turned around to catch up to the Jeep, the documents said.
Officers determined that the motorcyclists saw the Jeep pulled over at MM 9 and when the driver attempted to drive off, one of the motorcyclists pulled his bike in front of the Jeep. Police documents state that when the driver attempted to exit the vehicle one of the motorcyclists drew his firearm and ordered her back into the vehicle and then reached in and removed the keys from the Jeep's ignition. Officers placed Spangler in the back of a patrol car and she was never handcuffed.
According to police statements, Spangler was asked if she needed medical attention and she replied "No." Spangler continued saying that after some shopping in Silver City, she headed home up Highway 15 when something struck her vehicle, but said she didn't know what it was. Spangler said she got really scared and that she never saw what had hit her vehicle.
Spangler said, according to the police documents, that she pulled over because two motorcyclists were following her and one of them had a gun and ordered her out of the car. Spangler said she refused and the motorcyclists pulled her out and took her keys out of the ignition.
At that point, documents state, officers arrived and Spangler told them that she didn't see anything but just remembers her windshield shattering and said that she didn't stop because she was scared.
Spangler was charged with one count each of leaving the scene of an accident causing great bodily harm (4th degree felony) and reckless driving, the latter stating, according to a criminal complaint, "One (italics; editor's note) of bicyclists who was struck by the defendant's vehicle was severely injured." She was transported to GRMC for medical clearance, to SCPD for paperwork and booked into the Grant County Detention Center under a $6,000 cash only bond.
According to GCDC personnel, Spangler bonded out on Saturday, May 9.