2 City Workers Killed in Crash

Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 12:00 AM

Both Chase Powell and Joe Schmidt worked for the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department at the Piñon Hills Golf Course. The two men were traveling home from an irrigation workshop in Grand Junction, Colorado when the accident occurred. At this time the incident is being investigated under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico State Police.

From the City of Farmington:

Two City of Farmington employees were involved in a fatal accident last night at approximately 10:30 pm on US 491, north of Shiprock. City Manager, Rob Mayes stated, “First and foremost, I want to express on behalf of our entire employee family our deepest condolences and sympathy to the family and loved ones of Chase Powell and Joe Schmidt. I also want to acknowledge the remarkable impact this terrible event is having on those employees who worked closely with these men, our employee family here at the City of Farmington, and to our Farmington community as a whole. There is simply no good way to express how we feel and the depth of pain this news caused to so many.”

Both Powell and Schmidt worked for the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department at the Piñon Hills Golf Course. The two men were traveling home from an irrigation workshop in Grand Junction, Colorado when the accident occurred. At this time the incident is being investigated under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico State Police.

The City of Farmington will have grief counseling available for employees through the employee assistance program. The City would like to express our appreciation for the many messages of support we have received from community leaders and community members during this very difficult time for the victims’ families and for our employees.

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