Catron County, NM – On September 27, 2018 at around 3:50 a.m. the New Mexico State Police investigated an incident on US Highway 60 around mile post 5 where a pedestrian had been fatally struck by a vehicle.

The initial investigation indicates that for unknown reasons, Joseph Wayne Stewart (57) of Veguita, NM stopped his vehicle on the side of US 60, exited his vehicle and was standing in the middle of the west bound lane of US 60 when he was fatally struck by a vehicle traveling west on US 60. The vehicle that struck Stewart fled the area and did not report the incident. A passing motorist who later saw Stewart reported the incident.

Evidence on scene leads investigators to believe that it was a semi-truck that fatally struck Stewart. Alcohol does appear to be a factor in why Stewart was in the roadway. The area was a dark and unlit section of highway. New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit was called in to help investigate the crash. Currently there is no additional information available.

If anyone has any information about this incident, they are asked to call the New Mexico State Police at 505-827-9314.