Lea County, NM– On March 11, 2019 at about 7:15 a.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal head-on crash involving three vehicles on NM Highway 128, near Mile Post 35, west of Jal, NM.   

The initial investigation indicated a 2018 Ford pick-up driven by a twenty-eight-year-old male of Laredo, TX was traveling east on NM Highway 128. For unknown reasons the Ford drifted into oncoming traffic of the westbound lane where it struck the left rear end of a 1993 Honda driven by a twenty-seven-year-old male.  After the collision the Honda spun off the roadway and the Ford continued eastbound where it collided head-on into a westbound 2012 Toyota pick-up, causing it to roll. The Toyota was driven by Luis Carlos Cruz (56) of Orange, TX.

The driver of Toyota, Cruz sustained fatal injuries and he was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The driver and passenger of the Ford both sustained unknown injuries and were transported to a local hospital. The driver and passenger of the Honda complained of unknown injuries. 

Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash and seatbelts appear to have been worn by everyone except the driver of the Toyota. This case is still under investigation and charges are pending for the driver of the Ford. The name of the driver and passenger of the Honda will not be released as no charges have been filed. No other additional information is currently available at this time.