SAN ANTONIO — A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a motorcyclist who police say was racing another vehicle in downtown San Antonio earlier this week.
Police identified the suspect as Armando Gonzales Jr. He is charged with racing causing severe bodily injury in connection with the crash that killed 41-year-old Javier Romayor Jr.
Around 11 p.m. Monday, police say Romayor was riding his motorcycle along West Commerce Street near North Santa Rosa Avenue when he began racing a second vehicle. Officers said Romayor lost control and crashed into a tree before being rushed to Brooke Army Medical Center, where hospital staff pronounced him dead from blunt force injuries at 11:38 p.m.
Police said they could not locate the other vehicle that night but launched an investigation into the deadly race. Flock cameras show a white Tesla sedan and a red Kawasaki motorcycle stopped at a traffic light on Commerce Street and Flores Street. Authorities said both vehicles accelerated westbound at a high rate of speed, traveling side by side, when the motorcycle lost control and crashed. Video evidence showed the Tesla continued westbound and did not stop to help Romayor.
Police identified the Tesla by its Florida license plate, traced it to a Hertz rental agreement and located the rented vehicle on Tuesday (September 29) at a Golden Corral on Military Dr.. Officers detained both the driver and a passenger and brought them to police headquarters for questioning.
Detectives tell us Armando Gonzales Jr. admitted to operating the rented Tesla. Gonzales told investigators he saw a red motorcycle at a stoplight and began traveling at a high rate of speed, estimating he was going about 60 mph in a 30 mph zone. He also told police he did not see the motorcyclist crash into a tree.
After reviewing all evidence and acquiring statements, police charged Gonzales with racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony under Texas law.
The death of Romayor has led to renewed warnings about illegal racing in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Trish DeBerry, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio, said, “The bottom line is this: It’s all fun and games until tragedy strikes and someone loses their life,” DeBerry said. “And that’s exactly what happened in this case.” She also said, “As we grow downtown, we’ve got to curb this kind of activity because as we’ve gotten more people in downtown, it becomes that much more dangerous.”
Hugo Flores, who owns a business along Commerce Street, said he does not often notice racing in the area.
“Of course, it’s not safe to be speeding anywhere, but we don’t see that much, honestly,” Flores said.
On Tuesday after the crash, Romayor’s stepson placed flowers at the site where his stepfather died. Investigators’ markings remained visible along West Commerce Street.