Paul Garcia is a former Luna County Sheriff's Office corporal in New Mexico who was charged after a fatal crash in Deming on 11 November 2023. The crash killed 14-month-old Wyatt Franzoy and injured his mother, Isabella Hernandez.
The case attracted public attention because Garcia was responding to a reported call in a department vehicle when the crash happened. Reporting by the Associated Press and New Mexico outlets described very high speeds before impact and later civil litigation against Luna County.
Crash
The crash happened on New Mexico State Road 11, also known as Columbus Road, near Deming. Garcia was driving a Luna County Sheriff's Office vehicle while responding to a reported burglary or robbery call.
Associated Press reported that dash-camera video showed Garcia travelling at more than 130 mph at one point. Court documents cited by AP stated that he was travelling at 99 mph in a 55 mph zone when the collision happened as the family's car was making a left turn. AP also reported that sheriff's office policy advised deputies using lights and sirens not to exceed the posted speed limit by more than 20 mph.
Wyatt Franzoy died from injuries sustained in the crash. Isabella Hernandez survived with serious injuries.
Criminal Charges
Garcia was charged with homicide by vehicle and great bodily injury by vehicle. The charges were reported in 2024 after investigation by New Mexico authorities.
The cited sources reviewed for this revision did not identify a final criminal disposition. Later reporting said felony charges were still pending and that a trial was expected in August 2025.
Civil Settlement
In November 2024, Luna County approved a $7 million settlement with Hernandez and the Franzoy family. The Silver City Daily Press reported that Luna County was directly responsible for part of the settlement, with the remainder covered by New Mexico Counties.
KOAT and other local outlets reported that Garcia was no longer employed by the Luna County Sheriff's Office after the crash.
Public Issues Raised
The crash raised questions about emergency-response driving, police pursuit and response policies, hiring standards and internal supervision. Local reporting also examined Garcia's earlier driving-related criminal history, including an aggravated DWI conviction before he joined the sheriff's office.
The public record around the case needs careful wording. The fatal crash, charges, settlement and reported employment status are documented by cited reporting. Claims about final criminal guilt beyond the cited charges require later court records or reliable reporting.
References
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