Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 09/16/2021
Lea County, NM– On September 15, 2021, at approximately 9:47 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving two vehicles near the intersection of Orla Road and Pipeline Road, which is west of Jal, NM, and north of the New Mexico and Texas border.
The initial investigation indicated a 2021 Peterbilt Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), driven by 62-year-old male was traveling north on Orla Road when the CMV slowed down to make a left turn onto Pipeline Road. For reasons unknown a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu passenger car, driven by Donald Ray Hass (50) of Canyon, TX, struck the rear end of the CMV’s trailer. Hass who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of Medical Investigator. The driver of the CMV was uninjured.
Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash and seatbelts appear to have been only utilized by the driver of the CMV. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.