Driver, passenger killed after fleeing Las Cruces crash
Posted at: 07/11/2011 10:59 AM
By: The Associated Press
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico State Police say a driver and a passenger were killed after speeding away from another crash just south of Las Cruces.
Sgt. Tim Johnson says 23-year-old Derick Lopez allegedly rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at an intersection Sunday and then made a U-turn and sped away.
Lopez was driving erratically and trying to pass other vehicles on the shoulder when at least one of his tires blew out, causing the truck to roll and smash into a rock wall.
Lopez was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
One of his passengers, 22-year-old Benjamin Baca, was also killed.
A second passenger, 31-year-old Arturo Diaz, was taken to a nearby hospital.
Investigators believe the crash could be alcohol-related.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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