Lubbock man still in intensive care after Portales accident

STAFF REPORT

Portales police confirmed Thursday that a Lubbock man remains in intensive care after a vehicle accident which resulted from a Portales police chase.

Jerry Nale, 18, who was the driver of the vehicle, was air lifted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock Tuesday, along with a 16-year-old female, who later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

A 14-year-old male was released to relatives after being treated for minor injuries.

At 1 a.m. Tuesday, Portales police officers responded to a call at 14th Street and Avenue D regarding a suspicious vehicle.

When an officer began to approach the suspect vehicle on foot, the vehicle fled with the driver losing control and rolling the vehicle moments later.

The vehicle was reported as stolen out of Lubbock, and the two juveniles were listed as runaways, according to police.

Portales Police Department Public Information Officer Charlie Smart said Thursday that a “Crash Reconstruction Team” investigation is on-going and working closely with the ongoing potential criminal investigation.

“It is standard procedure for us to do an internal investigation when matters like this occur,” Smart said, adding that it is still being investigated whether officers followed the Law Enforcement Safe Pursuit Act guidelines.

He said more information will be released as soon as it is cleared for release.