Lincoln County, NM - On October 9, 2018 at about 10:00 a.m. the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on US Highway 54 around mile post 118, south of Carrizozo. 

The initial investigation indicated a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck was pulled off and stopped on the west side of US Highway 54 around the mile post 118 facing north. As the Freightliner prepared to reenter the roadway and continue north it yielded to a south bound semi-truck.

As the south bound semi-truck passed, the Freightliner begin to cross the south bound lane to head north. The driver of the Freightliner did not see a 1993 Dodge truck that was traveling south behind the south bound semi-truck. The Freightliner collided head on with the 1993 Dodge truck. 

The driver of the Dodge, Lawrence Ellis (73) of Epping, NH sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene. The passenger in the Dodge, a seventy-four-year-old Cloudcroft woman sustained unknown injuries.

The driver of the Freightliner, a thirty-three-year-old Titusville, Fl man was cited for Careless Driving.  Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor to the crash. No additional information is available at this time.