By Roger Lanse

Around 9:43 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, near MM 87 (Riverside, NM) on U.S. 180, a New Mexico State Police officer was involved in a crash with a motorcyclist.

According to the NMSP, the officer had slowed in his lane of traffic and initiated a U-turn in his marked patrol unit to assist a motorist who had flagged him down. A motorcyclist was traveling in the same direction, southbound, the motorcyclist behind the police vehicle. NMSP stated the motorcyclist crashed into the patrol unit causing non-life threatening injuries to the rider, who was transported by helicopter to a Tucson hospital for treatment.

Witnesses stated traffic was detoured through Gila and Cliff via State Route 211 for several hours.