Executive Summary
- Officers attempted a traffic stop on a Ford Mustang at 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day in Clovis, NM.
- The vehicle fled at high speed, leading officers into Curry County before crashing into a field.
- Passenger Jesus Romo, 27, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
- The driver, Julian Romo, 20, was hospitalized and the incident remains under investigation.
CLOVIS, N.M. – A high-speed pursuit initiated by the Clovis Police Department early New Year’s Day culminated in a single-vehicle rollover crash that left one passenger dead and the driver injured, authorities confirmed.
According to the Clovis Police Department, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Ford Mustang traveling on Llano Estacado Boulevard near Main Street shortly before 3 a.m. Police state that the driver refused to yield, fleeing eastbound at a high rate of speed before exiting the city limits into Curry County.
Law enforcement officials report that officers lost visual contact with the suspect vehicle near the intersection of Curry Road G and Curry Road 8, effectively terminating the active chase. Upon canvassing the area, officers discovered the Mustang had veered off the roadway and rolled over, coming to a rest in a field south of County Road 7.
First responders located a passenger, identified as 27-year-old Jesus Romo, unconscious at the scene. He was transported to Plains Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The driver, identified as 20-year-old Julian Romo, was also transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
Investigative Outlook
The incident remains under active investigation by local authorities as they reconstruct the events leading to the loss of control. Investigators are expected to examine factors such as vehicle speed and potential impairment to determine the precise cause of the wreck. As the inquiry proceeds, the district attorney’s office will review the findings to determine if criminal charges related to vehicular homicide or felony fleeing are warranted. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
