Serving the High Plains
Staff Report
A Texas man has been charged with drunken driving in connection with a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 54 north of Tucumcari.
New Mexico State Police officers responded to a crash with injuries on U.S. Highway 54, said Sgt. Elizabeth Armijo. When police arrived, they discovered that a passenger car had been driving westbound in the eastbound lane of Highway 54 and struck an oncoming vehicle. Armijo said the driver of the passenger car, identified as Stephan Joseph Molinas, 23 of Abilene, Texas, was uninjured in the crash and began speaking with officers at the scene.
Armijo said the driver of the second vehicle was injured in the crash. Armijo added that a 1-year-old child who was traveling with Molinas was uninjured in the crash.
Armijo said officers administered sobriety tests on Molinas and determined he was impaired and was unable to operate a vehicle safely.
Police arrested Molinas and charged him with driving under the influence of intoxicants. He later recorded a .12 blood-alcohol level and was booked into the Quay County Detention Center.