Luna County, NM - On October 23, 2018 at around 2:41 p.m. the New Mexico State Police investigated a double fatal crash involving four vehicles on State Road 26 near Mile Post 12 between Hatch and Deming, NM.

The initial investigation indicated a 2016 Toyota passenger car was traveling east on State Road 26 following behind a 2004 Toyota Van pulling a flatbed trailer with a Jeep on it. The Toyota car began to pass the Toyota Van pulling the Jeep. The 2016 Toyota was traveling east in the single westbound lane when it collided head on with a Dodge Charger that was traveling west in the westbound lane of State Road 26. The male driver of the 2016 Toyota car, Roy Edwards (75) of Silver City and the male driver of the Charger, Alexis Chavez (23) of Deming both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

The driver of the Toyota Van pulling the Jeep as well as the driver of a 2011 Chevy Camaro were both uninjured in the crash. Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor to the crash and seatbelts appear to have been properly utilized. The crash is still under investigation and no additional information is currently available.