Alcohol suspected in Roswell wreck that killed 19-year-old driver

ROSWELL, NM – Police in Roswell are investigating a single-vehicle wreck early Wednesday morning that left a driver dead.

According to the Roswell Police Department’s social media post, the accident happened in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue shortly before 2 a.m.

Witnesses told police said the driver, identified as 19-year-old Matthew Perez, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol after leaving a party. Perez, driving an Audi Q5 SUV, was reported to have stopped at a restaurant parking lot and fired a gunshot into the air.

Police said he is believed to have been driving at a high rate of speed when the SUV struck a fire hydrant and utility pole and rolled over one or more times before hitting a house on the corner of South Union and North Plains Park Drive.

Perez, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle damaged the house, but did not go through the structure to the inside of the home. The people inside the house were not injured.

Speed and alcohol are believed to have been contributing factors in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Roswell Police Department’s Traffic Unit.

Lane blocked on I-25 in Albuquerque due to accident

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Drivers were alerted to a crash affecting traffic in a portion of Albuquerque on Friday afternoon.

An advisory on NMRoads at 12:08 p.m. stated that the incident took place on Interstate 25 northbound at mile marker 225, at the exit for Lomas Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

The left lane of the interstate was closed at Lomas Boulevard while the area was being cleared. Delays were expected.

Crash closes portion of Interstate 40 in Gallup area

GALLUP, NM – New Mexico State Police and Gallup Police were dispatched to a vehicle crash on Interstate 40 last week.

According to a March 10 post from the Gallup Police Department, the accident that may have involved a fatality occurred on I-40 eastbound at mile post 16 and blocked the eastbound lanes. Traffic was being diverted onto Highway 66.

The roadway was reopened after New Mexico State Police completed their investigation.

Have you been hurt? Then call Bert!

If you were injured in a crash caused by someone driving under the influence, contact Albuquerque car accident lawyer Bert Parnall, who has more than 20 years of experience helping injured people get the money and justice they deserve. In that time, he and his team have recovered more than $250 million for his clients. They can help you seek the fair compensation you’re owed. You can set up a no-obligation consultation to review your case using our contact form or by calling (505) 268-6500.