The parking lot of the Coral Arena in Hobbs was the scene of a traffic incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, November 5. According to a Lea County Sheriff’s Office press release, sheriff’s deputies were conducting a “security check” around 1:00 a.m. in the 1900 block of East Stanolind Road in Hobbs “… when a vehicle was observed crashing into multiple parked vehicles and pedestrians in the parking lot of Coral Arena.”
Sheriff’s deputies “contacted” Hobbs resident 19-year-old Randy Nathun Martinez in the driver’s seat of the observed vehicle. The press release states that an investigation by Sheriff’s deputies “… determined that Martinez struck six parked vehicles and six pedestrians.”
Injuries sustained by the pedestrians ranged from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones and even “major internal injuries”. The injured individuals were transported to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital for treatment, with one requiring flight to a Lubbock, Texas hospital.
The press release continues that during their conversation with Martinez, deputies observed “indicators that he was under the influence of alcohol.” As a result Martinez was administered the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFTs), and deputies’ suspicions were confirmed. “After arrest, he [Martinez] submitted to a breath test with the results being 0.19 and 0.20, which is more than twice the legal limit in New Mexico.” Martinez was booked into the Lea County Detention Center and charged with Aggrieved DWI, Causing Bodily Injury (Misdemeanor), Negligent use of Firearm (Petty Misdemeanor) and six (6) counts of Aggravated Battery (Third Degree Felony). After arraignment, Martinez was released on a $5,000 Unsecured Appearance bond.
Comments about Martinez’s release are mounting on the Lea County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Michelle Lara asks “Why was he released? New Mexico we need to do better WHY let him out.” Jared Baker comments, “This is what you should expect to see everyday with NM laws. It’s just sad to see.” April Almager expresses concern about incidents like the one involving Martinez. She states, “With these kind of incidents; what’s going to happen if they are going to ruin things for the general honest public who just want to hang out and have a fun night.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lea County Sheriff’s Investigator Sandoval at 575-441-8906, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office at 575-396-3611 or Crime Stoppers at 575-396-8005.
