Dona Ana County District Attorney’s Office Declines Dragging Case

As a 17-year-old Las Cruces girl embarks on a life-long recovery, the driver who allegedly dragged her underneath a moving truck back in October will not face any charges at this time.

The Dona Ana County Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office has declined the case, Deputy District Attorney James Dickens, said.

“It is hard, I mean, how can you strike somebody and drag them, and not know they’re under your vehicle,” Dickens said. “But in the police reports, we just don’t think we have it as this time.”

Shawntae Caldwell told ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom she thought she was dead the night she was hit and pinned underneath a moving truck, and dragged for nearly 150 feet in a North Las Cruces neighborhood.

Caldwell lost a pinky, half an index finger and her left breast.

She was hospitalized for two months and has undergone nearly a half-dozen surgeries. Her next one is scheduled for this summer, for work on her hand.

While Caldwell is lucky to be alive, her family is distraught there are currently no consequences for the person who changed her life.

There has been a suspect all along in this case, Dickens said. But without solid evidence, there is simply not enough to prosecute, Dickens said.

“He readily admits he was the driver of the vehicle; the whole issue is being able to prove he knowingly struck the young lady,” Dickens said. “Unless we can prove there’s some sort of criminal culpability, there’s really nothing we can do on the criminal side.”

There were a number of witnesses at the scene the night Caldwell was dragged, but only if someone comes forward with new information will the D.A.’s Office revisit the case, Dickens said.