Photo Credit: Las Cruces Bulletin
DEMING – Luna County commissioners approved a $7 million settlement on Thursday, Nov. 14, in the civil lawsuit brought by the family of 14-month-old Wyatt Franzoy, who was killed in a high-speed crash involving a Luna County Sheriff’s deputy last year.
The collision occurred on Nov. 11, 2023, at State Road 11 and Voorhies Road, south of Deming.
Former deputy Paul Garcia, driving a marked unit at over 130 mph in a 55-mph zone, struck Isabella Hernandez’s vehicle as she turned onto Voorhies Road. Wyatt, secured in a car seat, was killed on impact, and Hernandez sustained severe injuries.
Garcia was responding to a robbery call in Columbus at the time of the crash.
Garcia was terminated 11 months after the crash and faces vehicular homicide charges, with trial set for August 2025.