Las Cruces Police are continuing to investigate a single-vehicle rollover crash from Friday evening that seriously injured a 19-year-old woman who was ejected from the pickup and pinned underneath until first responders were able to safely extricate her.
The injured woman, Sharon Eckard of Las Cruces, was transported to University Medical Center of El Paso with multiple injuries to her legs and abdomen. Eckard was still hospitalized on Monday.
At around 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, Las Cruces Police were called to the crash that occurred near the intersection of south Valley Drive and Florida Drive. Police learned that the Dodge 2500 pickup, driven by 20-year-old Stephen Pachta, was traveling southbound in the middle turn lane and attempting to pass other vehicles.
Evidence from the scene indicates that the pickup struck the curb of a median, spun across the northbound lanes of traffic and hit a short wall causing it to flip. Eckard was ejected from the vehicle which landed on her. There is no indication that she was wearing a seatbelt.
Speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
No charges have been filed as the investigation is still ongoing.