Otero County, NM – On August 13, 2019 at about 11:46 a.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash near the intersection of US 54 and McGregor Range Road, near Chaparral, NM.
The initial investigation indicated a 1997 Volkswagen, driven by Wavie Gene Shumate (37) of Tacoma, WA was traveling west on McGregor Range Road approaching the intersection of US 54. For reasons unknown, the Volkswagen failed to yield to the right of way and was struck by a north bound 2016 Kenworth Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), driven by a forty-seven-year-old of Grand Rapids, MI. The driver of the Volkswagen, Shumate was air lifted to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. He was pronounced deceased by a doctor at the hospital.
The driver of the CMV sustained injuries believed to be non-life threatening and was transported to a local hospital.
Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash and seatbelts appear to have been properly utilized. No additional information is available.
Information from New Mexico State Police