Eddy County, NM - On August 17, 2019 at around 9:12 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on County Road 728, north of Loving, NM.
The initial investigation indicated a 2003 Chevy Silverado and a 2004 Ford Ranger were both traveling east side by side on County Road 728 (London Road). For reasons still under investigation the vehicles made contact and both vehicles left the northside of the roadway. The Silverado came to a safe stop and the Ranger rolled. The Silverado was driven by Francisco Limon (17) of Loving, NM. The driver of the Silverado, Limon and a 15-year-old passenger were both uninjured.
The driver of Ranger, Riley Allen (18) also of Loving, NM was ejected from the vehicle and was flown to a hospital in Texas, where he succumbed to injuries sustained. He was pronounced deceased by a doctor at the hospital. An 18-year-old passenger in the Ranger sustained unknown injuries and was also flown to a hospital in Texas.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash and seatbelts do appear to have been properly used by all occupants except the driver of the Ranger. The driver of the Silverado, Francisco Limon was arrested and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center in Roswell, NM. Francisco Limon was charged with the following.
- Aggravated Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs resulting in Great Bodily Injury or Death.
- Careless Driving.
New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is assisting in the investigation. No other information is available at this time.