Sheriff’s Deputy Escapes Serious Injury During Routine Traffic Stop

A Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputy escaped serious injury during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 10 near Anthony Sunday morning.

At around 7:45am, DeputyDason Allen, who was returning to his patrol car after conducting a traffic stop, spotted a westbound truck approaching on Interstate 10 near the 162 Mile Marker.

The deputy noticed that the truck was towing a trailer and the trailer began swerving. As the truck passed Allen without incident, he suddenly noticed a van going westbound, approaching him and his patrol car.

Allen tried to jump into his patrol car to avoid being hit by the van but quickly realized there was no time to get inside, so he grabbed a hold of the light bar atop his car and pressed himself against the vehicle.

The van struck the front driver’s side door of the police car, pinning the deputy. The passenger’s side mirror of the van struck Allen’s shoulder.

Another deputy transported Allen to Mountain View Hospital, where he was treated for a minor shoulder injury and then released.

The van’s driver stopped immediately following the accident. A New Mexico State Police officer investigated the incident and cited the driver.