By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The victim of Sunday afternoon's fire on west Picacho Avenue died shortly after he was transported to a local hospital.
At around 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 9, Las Cruces firefighters were called to 2405 W. Picacho Ave. where they found 75-year-old Juan Leyva Jr. unconscious and lying face-down just inside the front door of his apartment. Firefighters pulled Leyva from the building and provided emergency care before he was transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center.
Leyva received immediate intensive care at the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
Firefighters found a dangerous level of smoke emitting from the kitchen stove inside Leyva's apartment. It is unknown if Leyva's death is a result of smoke inhalation, or if a medical condition may have led to an unattended stove and the fire. As is standard procedure, Leyva's body was transported to the state medical investigator's office for autopsy.
No other injuries were reported. The apartment received an extensive amount of smoke damage as a result of the fire.
Investigators are continuing to examine the cause of Sunday's fire.