Written by Officer Ray Wilson 04/28/2022
Chaves County, NM – On Wednesday, April 27, at around 8:46 p.m., New Mexico State Police Officers were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 285 and Darby Road, south of Roswell.
The initial investigation indicated that a 2009 Smart car, driven by Richard Wiles, 64, of Roswell was traveling north on U.S 285. A 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer commercial motor vehicle was turning onto southbound U.S. 285 from Darby Road. As the Kenworth crossed the northbound lanes of U.S. 285, the Smart Car collided with the trailer’s rear axle. The Smart Car spun around coming to rest facing south in the northbound lanes of U.S. 285 and then was struck head-on by a northbound 2017 Kia Forte. Wiles suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The driver of the Kia sustained minor injuries.
Alcohol was not believed to have been a factor and seatbelts were worn in the crash. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police with assistance from the New Mexico State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau.