Rio Rancho, NM – On October 22, 2019 at about 4:00 p.m., the New Mexico State Police responded to a fatal head-on-crash involving a wrong-way driver on Unser near Mariposa in Rio Rancho.
The initial investigation indicated that New Mexico State Police Sergeant Nathan Searle was traveling north on Unser near Mariposa in his department issued Ford Explorer police vehicle when a south bound green 1999 Ford SUV occupied by driver Dwight David Weir (55) of Bosque Farms and passenger Mark A. Marquez (52) of Farmington crossed the center line and drove head-on into the Sergeant Searle’s patrol vehicle.
On January 19, 2020 at 9:20 a.m., State Police officers located Wier in an RV on Broadway Boulevard, north of Interstate 25 near Isleta, NM. Weir was arrested without incident and booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center.
Sergeant Searle was transported to an area hospital with broken bones, where he was treated and ultimately released. Weir was airlifted to an area hospital where he was treated for injuries and ultimately released. Mark Marquez died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash and was pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Through investigation New Mexico State Police Investigations agents learned that prior to driving, Weir admitted to taking methamphetamine. After serving a search warrant on Weir’s 1990 Ford SUV, agents also found methamphetamine inside the SUV.
On December 12, 2019, a Felony Arrest Warrant was issued on Weir from the Sandoval County Magistrate Court charging him with
1. HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE (INTOXICATION)
2. GREAT BODILY HARM BY VEHICLE
3. POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (METHAMPHETAMINE)
4. DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE (SECOND OFFENSE)
5. RECKLESS DRIVING
Information from NM State Police