Eddy County, NM – On January 23, 2021 at approximately 10:02 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving two-vehicles near the intersection of US Highway 285 and NM Highway 2, north of Artesia, NM.
The initial investigation indicates a 2013 Jeep, driven by a 17-year-old female of Artesia, NM, was traveling south on NM Highway 2. The Jeep approached the intersection of US Highway 285 and for unknown reasons, the Jeep did not stop at the stop sign and struck the trailer of a 2016 Peterbilt Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) that was traveling north on US Highway 285. The 17-year-old driver of the Jeep, and a 15-year-old male passenger in the Jeep were both transported to an area hospital. The 17-year-old succumbed to her injuries at the hospital and the 15-year-old was flown to a hospital in El Paso, TX. His condition is unknown.
The driver of the CMV, a 40-year-old male of Somerset, TX was uninjured in the crash.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash and seatbelts were properly utilized. For the privacy of the family, the identity of the 17-year old driver and 15-year-old passenger in the Jeep will not be released by State Police. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.