Portales man dies in rollover

PORTALES — A Portales man died late Monday night in a rollover trucking accident east of Vaughn, according to a news release from New Mexico State Police.

Francisco Ornelas, 31, died at the scene after NMSP responded just before midnight near mile post 284 on U.S. Highway 660 in Guadalupe County. Officials said Ornelas was traveling eastbound in a 2012 International Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), a tractor-trailer.

“For reasons unknown, the CMV left the roadway and began to roll,” said the release.

Ornelas graduated Portales High School in 2005 and studied business at Eastern New Mexico University before starting “Next Generation Trucking” with his father, according to his obituary.

“Eric was very proud of the fact that he was his dad’s business partner,” it read. “He enjoyed driving his big rig, as well as his Corvette and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.”

Ornelas, known to his friends as “Flair,” is survived by his wife Desirie and two daughters and other family.