Jesus L. Montoya, 22, of Lovington, was killed last week in a freak accident – hit by a SUV after rolling his pickup. Montoya rolled his pickup on Gill Road west of Lovington.

A New Mexico State Police Department press release issued on Friday, October 14 states, “On October 13, just after midnight, New Mexico State Police officers were dispatched to Gill Road and Megert Lane, west of Lovington for a pedestrian who had been hit by a vehicle.”

After initial investigation officers found that Montoya “…had apparently crashed and rolled his 2006 Chevrolet pickup on Gill Road.” Officers found the pickup in the middle of the road.

According to the press release, after crashing his pickup Montoya got out of the truck and started walking in the ditch running alongside the road.

Next, a 42-year-old Lovington woman driving north on Gill Road in a 2002 Toyota SUV “…came up on the crashed pickup in the middle of the road. She swerved into the bar ditch [running alongside the road] to avoid hitting the truck and Montoya was struck by the vehicle.”

After being transported to an area hospital, Montoya was “pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.”

Police have stated that the woman driving the Toyota SUV was not injured.

New Mexico State Police continue to investigate the crash.