Woman arrested in vehicle death

A 61-year-old Portales woman was killed Friday night in a vehicle crash near the intersection of West Second St. and South Ave. C.

Officials said Martha Polanco Lozano’s vehicle was on fire when rescue workers arrived. She was transported to Roosevelt General Hospital and then to a Lubbock-area hospital where she died, records show.

Police on Friday night arrested a New Hampshire woman and charged her with homicide by motor vehicle.

Records show Ayn Poitras, 55, of Wentworth, N.H., was driving a white bus or camper that ran a red light, causing the collision with Lozano’s vehicle.

Witnesses told police the white vehicle fled the area after the collision, but Poitras returned while police were still on scene.

Officers noted Poitras’ vehicle had damage to its front.

Court records show Poitras agreed to submit to a field sobriety test. She told police her blood sugar was extremely low and that she would have issues balancing. Officers reported they smelled “the odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from (Poitra’s) person while speaking with her,” records show.

Police Chief Christopher Williams said Poitras was arrested Friday night and was being held in the Roosevelt County Detention Center where she remained on Tuesday morning.

According to witness statements, Lozano was traveling northbound on Avenue C when Poitras’ vehicle failed to stop at the eastbound red light at Avenue C.

Williams said Portales police are investigating.