CARLSBAD A single-vehicle accident took the life of a Carlsbad man Monday morning around 9:36, according to information from the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Robert L. Smith Jr., age 27, was traveling westbound on State Road 128 when he approached a left-hand curve near the intersection with State Road 18, a DPS news release stated. The intersection is east of Carlsbad, near the small community of Jal.
Smith was driving a 2002 GMC utility vehicle. Investigators said he failed to negotiate the curve and traveled into the opposite lane. He steered to the right, but overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go into a broadside skid.
When the vehicle skidded off the roadway, it rolled approximately two times.
Smith, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Medical Investigator Sandy Brown.
Police investigators said driver inattention, alcohol and lack of seatbelt use contributed to the crash.
My kids grew up with him, I hired him back in 2010 but had to fire him 3 weeks ago for drinking while driving his work truck.
Yesterday I really was sad to hear he died, his parents came to my office to tell me but I was out. By last night I was mad about it, I figured alcohol was involved. This morning I find out he left a party in Odessa Texas at midnight and was headed back to Carlsbad with a fresh 30 pack on the front seat of his mom's car. He made it halfway, and apparently lay dead undiscovered for 8 hours, no surprise given how little traffic there is on that road.
So now I'm really pi**ed at Smitty. How could he do this to his friends and family? Even if you don't care about yourself, quit being so damn selfish and think about how this will affect everybody around you, even if you don't deserve it.
I love my beer, but one reason I homebrew and my wife loves that I homebrew is that I drink at home. We have parties but everybody has to stay at our house or have a legit DD.
Merry Christmas Mr and Mrs. Smith
End of rant.
Robert L. Smith Jr., age 27, was traveling westbound on State Road 128 when he approached a left-hand curve near the intersection with State Road 18, a DPS news release stated. The intersection is east of Carlsbad, near the small community of Jal.
Smith was driving a 2002 GMC utility vehicle. Investigators said he failed to negotiate the curve and traveled into the opposite lane. He steered to the right, but overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go into a broadside skid.
When the vehicle skidded off the roadway, it rolled approximately two times.
Smith, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Medical Investigator Sandy Brown.
Police investigators said driver inattention, alcohol and lack of seatbelt use contributed to the crash.
My kids grew up with him, I hired him back in 2010 but had to fire him 3 weeks ago for drinking while driving his work truck.
Yesterday I really was sad to hear he died, his parents came to my office to tell me but I was out. By last night I was mad about it, I figured alcohol was involved. This morning I find out he left a party in Odessa Texas at midnight and was headed back to Carlsbad with a fresh 30 pack on the front seat of his mom's car. He made it halfway, and apparently lay dead undiscovered for 8 hours, no surprise given how little traffic there is on that road.
So now I'm really pi**ed at Smitty. How could he do this to his friends and family? Even if you don't care about yourself, quit being so damn selfish and think about how this will affect everybody around you, even if you don't deserve it.
I love my beer, but one reason I homebrew and my wife loves that I homebrew is that I drink at home. We have parties but everybody has to stay at our house or have a legit DD.
Merry Christmas Mr and Mrs. Smith
End of rant.
