14 people have died on Eddy County roads this year

Oct. 18--Since January of this year, 14 people have died on Eddy County roads, according to records kept by the University of New Mexico.

Five deaths involved alcohol-related incidents. Seven happened in part because of failure to properly use a seat belt, or even use a seat belt at all.

Min Eddy County several organizations are tackling driver safer education.

On Oct. 23, the Permian Road Safety Coalition is hosting the Q4 2019 Forum in Carlsbad.

The Forum will provide a place to share best practices, get updated safety data, and receive the latest on infrastructure plans. The event is free; It begins at 10:45 a.m. at the Pecos River Village conference Center in Carlsbad.

These people died on Eddy County roads

March 11: Luis Carlos Cruz

Luis Carlos Cruz, 56, was killed in a head-on crash with a semi truck on State Road 128, mile marker 35 near Jal.

Cruz's vehicle was one of three involved in the accident near mile marker 35.

April 5: Matthew Daniel Thomas

Matthew Daniel Thomas, 28, of El Paso was killed when his vehicle crashed into the rear axles of a tractor trailer east of Loving on State Road 128.

April 15: Terrance Avery Yellets

Terrance Avery Yellets, 25, of Corpus Christi, Texas was killed after he failed to stop an intersection of U.S. Highway 62/180.

April 20: R.A. Steven Stephens and Anthony Robert Capetillo

R.A. Steve Stephens, 19, of Trinity, Texas and Anthony Robert Capetillo, 47, of McAllen, Texas were killed when their vehicles collided head-on near milepost 15 on Highway 128, east of Loving, New Mexico.

April 28: Nicholas Clay Pivoda

Nicholas Clay Pivoda, 21, of Seguin, Texas was ejected when he lost control of his vehicle and it rolled on Lease Road, east of Loving, New Mexico.

May 2: Annette Sanchez

Annette Sanchez, 49, of Carlsbad, New Mexico sustained fatal injuries after a tire blew out in a vehicle traveling west on United States Highway 62/180.

May 10: Cesar Ramirez

Cesar Ramirez, 47, of Hobbs, New Mexico was ejected from his vehicle in a single vehicle fatal rollover crash on Campbell Road, south of U.S. 62/180.

May 14: Javier Ornelas

Javier Ornelas, 51, died after his vehicle rolled overnear mile marker 7 on State Road 128. Ornelas was not wearing his seat belt.

May 26: Francisco Adame Montemayor

Francisco Adame Montemayor, 21, of Cleburne, Texas was traveling west on U.S. 82, when for unknown reasons he crossed over the center line into eastbound traffic and collided into the side of a 2015 Freightliner Commercial Motor Vehicle.

June 28: Jayson Michael Salcido

Jayson Michael Salcido, 35, of Carlsbad was traveling east on Derrick Road in a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle when for reasons unknown he collided head on with a west bound 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

August 17: Riley Allen

Riley Allen, 19, of Loving, New Mexico was traveling on County Road 728, also known as London Road, when a collision with a second vehicle caused his vehicle to roll.

September 7: Guerrero Lozoya Gonzalez

Guerrero Lozoya Gonzalez, 33, of Carlsbad, New Mexico was traveling west on U.S. 62/180 when for unknown reasons he struck the rear end of a 2015 Mack Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) that was attempting to a make a right turn off of U.S. 62/180, onto a lease road.

The Current-Argus was unable to confirm the circumstances of a death listed in February, and unable to confirm a death listed in supplied statistics which occurred in July.

New Mexico road conditions: When will NMDOT improvements be complete?

The State of New Mexico and Eddy County are investing millions to fix Eddy County roads.

Conservatively it takes $2 million to pave a single mile, this according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT).

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledged $400 million to improve road infrastructure when she took office.

And $31 million is expected to be spent on building an overpass over U.S. Highway 285 and State Road 31. Already, $1.6 million was raised by Eddy County for that project's planning phase alone.

A DOT project on U.S. Highway 82 began in June and is expected to cost between $17 million and $58 million.

O Another project to improve State Road 128 known as the "Jal Highway" and running from Jal in Lea County to Loving, where most of the fatalities have occurred, could cost up to $160 million.

DOT announced the designation Wednesday of a new safety corridor on State Road 128 spanning nearly 50 miles near the New Mexico/Texas State line.

Motorists will notice increased law enforcement presence from New Mexico State Police and Eddy and Lea County Sheriff's deputies, the release read.

"The DOT is committed to making this road safer. The safety corridor program provides improved signage, funding for law enforcement overtime, and gives the local enforcement authorities the ability to double the fines for any moving violation," said Cabinet Secretary Mike Sandoval in the release.

Motorists will see a total of 30 new signs upon entering and leaving the safety corridor, as well as signs that alert drivers to zero tolerance for violations in the corridor, according to the release.

The safety corridor segment was selected by reviewing historic accident and fatality data, a speed study which demonstrated a median speed limit substantially higher than posted, driver behavior, as well as input from law enforcement.

Tim Parker, DOT District 2 engineer, said converting U.S. Highway 285 to a four lane highway would constitute an investment of up to $130 million.

The Permian Strategic Partnership, a partnership of 20 major and mid-size energy companies in west Texas and southeast New Mexico has said it would invest $100 million in communities most affected by oil and gas operations.

Eddy, Lea County road fatalities over the last decade

Eddy County

2018: 17

2017: 7

2016: 10

2015: 16

2014: 15

2013: 14

2012: 8

2011: 14

2010: 15

Lea County

2018: 16

2017: 13

2016: 13

2015: 31

2014: 12

2013: 17

2012: 15

2011: 20

2010: 13

The data was taken from the University of New Mexico Geospacial and Population Studies website.

If you know of a name or circumstance that was left off of this list, please email the Current-Argus at news@currentargus.com

News Director Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com, 575-628-5531 or @JussGREAT on Twitter.

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