The Texas Department of Public Safety said a minivan crashed with an 18-wheeler Thursday morning at the intersection of State Highway 86 and State Highway 214 east of Bovina. The crash killed an 8-year-old boy.
DPS said Nita Patel, 37, of Clovis failed to yield the right of way with the minivan she was driving.
DPS said, “The minivan had six passengers including two young children. At impact an eight year old boy was ejected and killed.”
The full text of a DPS statement is copied below:
This morning at approximately 8:00 a.m. there was a single fatality resulting from a crash at the intersection of Hwy 86 & 214 east of Bovina. A 2015 Toyota minivan driven by Nita Patel, 37 year old from Clovis, NM was eastbound on Hwy 86. Patel failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign and pulled out in front of a 2016 Kenworth 18 wheeler traveling south on Hwy 214. The 18 wheeler was driven by Mario Mena, 44 year old from Hereford. The minivan had six passengers including two young children. At impact an eight year old boy was ejected and killed, all passengers from the minivan were transported with non-life threatening injuries to a local hospital. The 18 wheeler rolled onto its driver side after impact causing the driver minor injuries he too was transported. Everyone in the minivan was wearing their seatbelts, as was Mena. DPS is investigating and will pass along additional information as it becomes available.
