New Mexico
Las Cruces High School volleyball player killed in tragic crash en route to tournament
A Las Cruces High School volleyball player died in a crash as she was traveling for a volleyball tournament from Las Cruces to Midland.
Samantha Bursum, 14, was killed on March 1 in Ward County, near Pecos, Texas.
At 9:32 p.m., a car without headlights was stranded in a roadway due to a previous crash blocking both lanes of Interstate 10 East. The driver of the vehicle transporting Bursum failed to notice the car and collided with it, according to the Texas Department of Transportation
Bursum and the driver of both vehicles were taken to Ward Memorial Hospital in Monahans, Texas, where Bursum was pronounced dead.
The crash remains under investigation.
Volleyball community mourns loss of Samantha Bursum
The volleyball community remembers Bursum as a kind, intelligent girl determined to win and never missed a practice.
Alonda Dominguez, head coach of a traveling volleyball development team, said Bursum was on her way to the team’s tournament in Midland on Saturday.
“Samantha was a beacon of light on and off the court,” Dominguez said. “She was everything a coach could have asked for in a player.”
Dominguez said when she heard Bursum had died on the way to the tournament, she didn’t know how to tell the other players.
“We weren’t prepared to tell them,” she said. “We called a meeting and let the girls know and consoled them.”
The team ended up playing the tournament in Bursum’s honor, Dominguez said.
Social media posts also remember the teen, who was a Las Cruces Catholic School alumni. She had graduated from the school last year and was now a freshman at Las Cruces High School, according to the post.
“Sam was an amazing young woman who always had a smile on her face,” the post said.
Las Cruces High School also posted about Bursum, saying she was a friend to all and an amazing athlete and student.
Dominguez said Bursum’s jersey, number 15, will now be retired.
“She was a force of nature,” Dominguez said. “She was ready to change the world. She wanted to be a lawyer to help people. She was a go-getter kind of girl.”
SALT LAKE CITY — A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Utah has passed away in his sleep unexpectedly Saturday in New Mexico, according to a news release from The Church.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died from a medical cause that has not been determined, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement.
According to The Church, Martin had been serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission since May 2024. He was from Salem, Utah.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died in his sleep on Jan. 3 from a medical cause that has yet to be determined. He was serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fellow missionaries. We pray they will find comfort and strength through their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and feel the Savior’s love as they honor Elder Martin’s life and devoted missionary service,” the statement said.
According to the release, an autopsy is planned.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.
There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.
How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.
Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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