NEW MEXICO (KRQE) –Homicide by vehicle charges were filed against Luna County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Garcia for his role in an accident that killed a 14-month-old boy in Deming.
Court documents say that in November 2023 Isabella Hernandez was driving on Highway 11 when she was struck by Garcia in his marked patrol unit, killing the 14-month-old boy. He said he was responding to a burglary in progress. The family’s attorneys said New Mexico State Police say Garcia’s vehicle slammed into Hernandez at 99 mph and reached speeds up to 131mph.
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The law firm says Hernandez suffered fractures to her collarbone, pelvis, ribcage, wrists, liver bleeding and nerve damage in the crash. The 14-month-old was pronounced dead with blunt force trauma being the cause of death. “I remember slowing down before the intersection and turning on my blinker. And my life changed forever. I became unconscious when he hit us. I came to at some point in pain, crying for help because I couldn’t breath and I was asking for my son,” Hernandez said.
Deputy Garcia was charged with homicide by vehicle and great bodily injury be vehicle.
