Since losing her daughter Kayla Vanlandingham to a traffic crash last July, Melinda Montoya has turned her grief into action, becoming a powerful advocate for safer streets and protections for vulnerable road users.
Melinda Montoya Continues the Fight for Safer Streets
August 3, 2026 at 1:32:47 PM
Last July, 19-year-old cyclist Kayla Vanlandingham was killed by a motorist while crossing Carlisle Boulevard. Since then, her mother, Melinda Montoya, has worked tirelessly to honor Kayla’s memory by advocating for changes that make Albuquerque streets safer for people walking, biking, and rolling.
Melinda’s advocacy has helped bring greater attention to the need for stronger protections for vulnerable road users, including changes to Albuquerque’s traffic code and increased public awareness about sharing the road safely. We encourage our community to read more about Melinda’s journey and her continued call for safer streets:
Albuquerque Journal opinion piece (July 26 edition)