One dead in weekend crash

PORTALES — The suspect in a fatal crash possibly caused by alcohol on Saturday told police he was returning home from watching a movie at 4:30 a.m., officials said.

Ricardo Navarrete, 31, of Portales, was arrested Saturday morning after police say his vehicle struck another car from behind, killing the driver.

Jose Saldana-Pinales, 41, of Portales, was ejected from his vehicle after it was rear-ended by Navarrete's truck, according to a press release by the New Mexico State Police. Saldana-Pinales died at the scene.

Efforts to reach Saldana-Pinales family members were not immediately successful.

The crash happened near the old Greyhound Stadium football field off of U.S. 70.

According to Navarrete's arrest affidavit, an NMSP officer arrived at the scene about 5:25 a.m. Saturday and found a white pickup truck on its driver's side facing west. "The truck was in the middle of the road," the report said.

Saldana-Pinales' vehicle lay in the field north of the highway, according to the affidavit.

The officer stated that Navarrete had "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and body," as well as "blood shot watery eyes."

Navarrete was transported to the NMSP office in Clovis, where he consented to a breath test. The alcohol level on Navarrete's breath was .14, according to the affidavit.

Navarrete was charged with homicide by vehicle related to DUI and transported to Roosevelt County Detention Center.

He is being held without bond, according to RCDC Administrator Justin Porter.