NMSP News:DONA ANA COUNTY ― At about 4:45 p.m. Monday, the New Mexico State Police investigated a crash on Interstate 10 around mile post 159, where a pedestrian had been fatally struck by a vehicle.
The initial investigation indicates a 2001 Volkswagen driven by Garcia Talamantes, 18, of Mexico stalled out in the middle of westbound lanes on Interstate 10. A Good Samaritan, Byron Wade Cross, 46, of Sunland Park stopped to assist the driver of the Volkswagen, when it was struck by a 2008 Chevrolet pick-up.
Immediately after the first collision, a 2002 Lincoln approached driven by Daniel A. Terrazas, 72, of Las Cruces. The driver of the Lincoln swerved right to avoid a collision with the Chevrolet and Volkswagen and struck Cross who was standing on the right shoulder of the roadway. Cross was transported to University Hospital in El Paso, Texas where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the Hospital.
The driver of the Volkswagen, Garcia Talamantes, 18, of Mexico, was issued a traffic citation for stop, standing, parked on roadways 66-3-852.
The driver of the Lincoln, Daniel A. Terrazas was issued traffic citations for an expired driver’s license 66-5-2, no insurance 66-5-39, and careless driving 66-8-114. He was arrested on an unrelated arrest warrant out of Dona Ana County. Terrazas was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
The name of the driver of the Chevrolet pick-up will not be released due to not being charged with any crime.
The New Mexico State Police Reconstruction Unit was called out to assist in the investigation. No other information is available.
