Three found dead in vehicle

Three people were found dead in a running car Saturday afternoon in the parking lot outside the La Vista Inn, police said in a news release.

“(I)nvestigators do not suspect foul play,” the news release stated.

The victims were identified as Hector Flores, 29, Alizara Gallegos, 19, and a male juvenile whose name was not released.

A friend of Gallegos told The News that Gallegos and Flores were engaged to be married. The juvenile male was Flores’ son, she said.

Investigators were told the family may have been temporarily homeless and living in the car, Deputy Police Chief Trevor Thron said.

Thron said officials on Monday are planning to conduct tests on the vehicle to see if carbon monoxide could have been leaking into the car’s cabin.

Police were notified of the individuals in the car about 2:40 p.m. Saturday, the release stated. They were deceased when rescue workers arrived.

The victims’ bodies were sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for autopsy.

While officials had not confirmed whether the family was living in the car, Lighthouse Mission Director Richard Gomez said Sunday the shelter has a dozen beds available for those who need a place for temporary shelter.

“We can give (anyone homeless) three nights’ stay and go from there,” he said, meaning the mission can also help provide information about long-term housing options if needed.

The Clovis area saw heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures as low as the 40s and 50s. Officials did not know how long the family had been in the car.

Gomez said he did not know the victims of Saturday’s tragedy.

City officials over the past several months have been discussing ways to help the city’s homeless and Gomez said a meeting with multiple non-profit agencies is scheduled to take place in the coming days.

Clovis police routinely direct the homeless to the Lighthouse shelter for assistance, Gomez said. The mission is located at 407 L. Casillas Blvd. Its phone number is 575-769-7775.