Florida man killed in U.S. Highway 54 crash

A Florida man was killed in a fatal vehicle crash that happened on the afternoon of May 4 on U.S. Highway 54 between Tularosa and Carrizozo.

D. Nigel Thompson, 25 of Crestview, Florida, was going northbound on U.S. Highway 54 in a Subaru passenger car when he tried to pass the vehicle in front of him.

Thompson crashed head-on into a Kenworth tractor-trailer that was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 54.

Thompson was pronounced dead by the Office of the Medical Investigator at the scene of the crash after having sustained fatal injuries, a New Mexico State Police news release states.

The driver of the Kenworth was not injured in the crash.

"Thompson does not appear to have been wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, and alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor," the news release states.

The New Mexico State Police is still investigating the crash.

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Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. If you have questions about your subscription, please contact Customer Service at  AlamogordoDailyNews@Gannett.com or call 1-877-301-0013.