NMSP News:

CHAVES COUNTY — At around 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2024, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) was called to investigate a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on U.S. Highway 285 and the intersection of East Orchard Park Road south of Roswell. 

The initial investigation indicated that a Ford pickup truck, driven by a 46-year-old male, was trying to cross 285 from East Orchard Park Road. A 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old male struck the Ford pickup truck as it crossed 285, causing both vehicles to become disabled in the northbound lanes. 

A 2019 Ford pickup truck pulling a flatbed trailer, driven by a 64-year-old male, was stopping or stopped to avoid the crash when a Nissan Frontier, driven by David Pedroza, 63, of Roswell, collided with the rear of the trailer.

Pedroza suffered fatal injuries during the impact and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The 49-year-old female passenger in the Nissan Frontier was injured and transported to an area hospital. Her injuries and condition are not known.

Following the initial crash and subsequent fatal crash, a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by a 64-year-old female, a 2022 Ford Escape driven by a 47-year-old male, and a 2003 Honda Civic driven by a 43-year-old male all collided with the initial crash. The drivers of those three vehicles were not injured. 

In addition to the drivers listed above, the 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck had an uninjured 16-year-old male, 41-year-old female, and 8-year-old male passengers. A 15-year-old female passenger sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The 2019 Ford pickup had an uninjured 27-year-old and a 57-year-old male passenger.

Alcohol is not suspected as being a factor. High winds and limited visibility due to blowing dust contributed to this crash, which remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.