Man dies in rollover

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 65-year-old Harbor City, Calif., man died from head injuries he sustained when his sports utility vehicle rolled over on Interstate 40 near Gallup. According to an accident report, the driver's sleepy condition and an icy roadway could have contributed to the fatal accident.

Joseph Thellend was pronounced dead at the scene by medical investigator Richard Malone and the 2000 Suzuki SUV's passengers, 65-year-old Louise Thellend and 29-year-old Lynn Estabillo, were transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Estabillo was reportedly 16 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident.

Thellend was driving west on Interstate 40 near Mile Marker 8 when the vehicle reportedly slammed into an unknown object early Saturday. The vehicle began to roll and eventually landed in the middle of the roadway on its roof.

According to a report, Joseph Thellend was still seatbelted inside the vehicle when emergency personelle arrived at the scene. He reportedly had no pulse and sustained massive head injuries due to the crash. McKinley County West Fire officials extracted the man from the vehicle and he was transported to Cope Memorial Mortuary in Gallup.

Louise Thellend reportedly told emergency responders that there were two dogs inside the vehicle prior to the accident; however, they were never recovered.