By Roger Lanse

Allen Malone, 64, whose address is listed as 8 Spring Creek Road, Silver City, crashed his 2005 Toyota Camry into a tree on Rosedale Road, Monday morning, Jan. 29. According to a Silver City Police Department crash report, officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 9 a.m. and Malone was transported to Gila Regional Medical Center, where he died a short time later.

According to the report, witnesses interviewed did not see the crash but came upon the crash site afterward. However, the witnesses said they did not closely inspect the crashed vehicle and did not see anyone in the vehicle as they walked or drove by.

One witness advised he heard a crash outside and 15-20 minutes later could hear a couple arguing and a female yelling at someone to get in. The witness advised he also saw a black long-bed pickup in the area at the time he heard the yelling.

Officers determined, according to the report, that Malone may have suffered a medical issue rendering him unconscious as he was traveling south on Rosedale Road. Malone's vehicle then went south in the northbound lane, knocking over a traffic sign before colliding with a tree on the east side of the roadway. Investigating officers observed heavy damage to the front end of the vehicle.

A close relative of the deceased advised that Malone had suffered three major heart attacks in the past, the last one occurring just six months ago. The relative stated Malone was more than likely coming from Fort Bayard after visiting his wife and was on his way home when he probably had another heart attack before crashing.