On July 1, 2016 around 11:00 p.m., New Mexico State Police officers responded to investigate a crash with injuries on US 285 and 13th street in Artesia, NM. Once on scene, officers learned one of the drivers had fled from the scene on foot.
The investigation indicated the driver who fled the scene was driving a pickup truck north on 13th Street when the driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of US 285. The pickup then collided with an oncoming SUV traveling southbound on US 285. The driver of the pickup at fault subsequently fled the scene.
The SUV which was struck was occupied by a family of six traveling from Roswell to Artesia. All six occupants in the SUV sustained injuries, three of whom sustained serious injuries. Three occupants in the vehicle were treated at the hospital in Artesia and released. The occupants who sustained serious injuries, including the mother, an eight year old female child, and a five year old male child, were airlifted to Lubbock, TX with critical injuries. The mother and five year old are currently in stable condition in the hospital and the eight year old remains in critical condition.
The New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit was called to assist in the investigation. While officers were conducting a crash investigation at the scene, approximately an hour later, the driver who fled returned to the scene. The driver identified himself as Blake Bollema, (31 years of age) of Artesia and stated he was the driver of the pickup. Mr. Bollema stated after the crash, he fled the scene and called a family friend. The friend brought him back to the scene.
While talking to Mr. Bollema, officers smelled alcohol on his breath and observed signs of impairment. Officers attempted to conduct sobriety tests with Mr. Bollema but he refused all tests. Mr. Bollema was arrested and subsequently refused to submit to a breath or blood test to determine the alcohol content in his body. NMSP officers then obtained a search warrant to collect a blood sample from Mr. Bollema. The results of that blood draw are pending.
Mr. Bollema was booked into the Artesia jail on charges of Aggravated DWI (2nd offense), three counts of Great Bodily Harm by Vehicle (under the influence of alcohol or drugs), Fleeing the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Render Aid, and a stop sign traffic violation.
The vehicles involved in the crash were impounded by the New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit for further investigation and collection of crash data from the vehicles.
(News release from New Mexico State Police)