City man drives onto tracks

Curry County deputies took a 36-year-old Clovis man into protective mental custody Wednesday after he drove onto the rail line dividing Texico and Farwell about 8:45 p.m., according to Curry County Sheriff Roger Hatcher.

“We could charge him with trespassing because he did drive down the rail, but if we charge him it makes it more difficult for us to get a psych evaluation,” Hatcher said. “If we do charge him we will charge him tomorrow after we get him evaluated.”

Hatcher said officers believe the man intentionally drove onto the railroad tracks after tying himself into the vehicle with a rope tied between the brake pedal, steering wheel and door handle.

“They had to use a Taser on him to get him out of the vehicle,” Hatcher said. “We think that he was wanting to do himself harm. Fortunately we were able to get the trains stopped so there was not a collision with a train.”