JAL, NM — October 15, 2026 Mario Montes, 46, died in a collision involving two semitrucks at the intersection of New Mexico Highway 128 and Orla Road near Jal, according to the Lea County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Deputies responding to the scene around 1:47 a.m. discovered two commercial trucks engulfed in flames on the north side of the intersection.
According to preliminary findings, a semitruck driven by 34-year-old Luis Diaz Mederos was traveling north on Orla Road when it failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with Montes’ westbound truck on Highway 128.
Both vehicles left the roadway and entered a roadside ditch. Montes’ truck was carrying flammable materials, and a fire followed the collision. The Jal Fire Department extinguished the blaze, and both drivers were confirmed dead.
Authorities have not released a final determination of the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
