Artesia man killed in three-vehicle crash near Malaga

An Artesia man was killed Monday morning after being involved in a three-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 285. It is the third fatal car crash in a week.According to the New Mexico State Police news release, David Hedgecock of Artesia died at the scene. Hedgecock was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the release.Roy Burkham, assistant fire chief of the Malaga Volunteer Department, said the crash occurred around 4 a.m.According to the release, Hedgecock's water hauler was travelling northbound on the highway. Floyd Fowler of Utah was driving his commercial vehicle southbound when he lost control of the vehicle, state police said.Fowler's truck hit Hedgecock's vehicle after Fowler switched to the northbound lane around a curve close to marker 18, according to the release.Both trucks rolled into a nearby ditch, according to a witness who declined to give his name. A third truck was also involved in the crash, Burkham said.Fowler did not have visible injuries and was taken to the Carlsbad Medical Hospital.The news release reported that contributing factors in the accident were speeds too fast for the weather conditions, and driver inattention. Burkham said that speeding has been an issue on the highway, particularly in the area of the crash. He said that this was about the fifth or sixth crash this year alone.In a July, a three-car collision occurred in the same area, leaving the drivers with minor injuries. Burkham said oil from the crash left the road slick and another accident involving a Walmart semi truck occurred just two days later."We haven't had that many accidents in 40 years," Burkham said. This is the second crash this week involving an oilfield truck. On Oct. 7, three men were involved in a one-vehicle roll-over on Illinois Camp Road, killing two of them.According to the New Mexico State Police, driver inattention, speed and failure to wear seatbelts were contributing factors in last Monday's crash.Last Tuesday morning, a Loving man was killed in a three-car collision on Highway 31.