Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Matthew Gibbs died early Saturday morning after police believe he was hit by a vehicle.
Matthew Gibbs loved Cruella de Vil, Darth Vader, anything Disney, anything Star Wars, and Harry Potter.
"He never met a stranger. He talked to everybody," said his father, David Gibbs.
"He'd just made a down payment on his own apartment. He didn't have a car."
Matthew, 24, was walking to his job at the Allsup's at 14th and Norris streets a little before 11 p.m. Friday night when he was hit by a vehicle, authorities believe.
More than two hours later, a passing motorist saw him lying in a field and called police. Rescue workers rushed him to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis but he did not survive.
"There was blood in the street," David Gibbs said. "I don't know if (the impact) threw him in the field or how he got there. Police told me it looked like he was hit by a truck or an SUV. Whoever hit him, just left him."
Police over the weekend were still searching for the motorist they suspect hit Gibbs.
David Gibbs said Matthew had been working at Allsup's for about a year, most recently the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. He regularly walked to work from the home he shared with his two younger brothers in the 1500 block of Echols Street.
An autopsy was scheduled over the weekend. David Gibbs, who lives in Portales, said funeral arrangements would be made early this week.
The family has a GoFundMe page set up to help with services. Donations were near $2,700 on Tuesday morning.
"He was a real sweet boy," his father said.
Clovis police found debris in the roadway where they believe Gibbs was struck. The Clovis Police Department Major Crash Team was activated to investigate the incident.
Police asked anyone with information contact them at 575-769-1921.
Do you have a question?
A comment you'd like to see published?
Or maybe a story idea for a future edition?
— Please email the publisher: [email protected]
