
The City of Deming Police Department (DPD) has officially concluded its investigation into the drowning at the Sam Baca Aquatic Center (SBAC) that occurred on July 15, 2022. The drowning involved City of Deming Lifeguard Megan Wertz, 18. Wertz began her employment with the City of Deming Aquatics Department on April 18, 2022. DPD has ruled her death accidental.
Based on information gathered through the investigation, the following is known. The SBAC was closed when the drowning occurred. Wertz was one of two employees that were at SBAC at that time.
Employees were performing their daily cleaning duties of the pools. The second employee, upon seeing Wertz, called 911. Officers with DPD and a Deputy with the Luna County Sherriff’s Office were on the scene within 3 minutes. All officers on-scene immediately dived in and were able to bring Wertz to the pool deck, where DPD and Deming Fire Department began CPR. Wertz was transported to Mimbres Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, where she was pronounced deceased sometime later. At the family’s request, further details of the accident are not included.
The City of Deming Mayor Benny Jasso and City Administrator Aaron Sera have met with the Wertz family. At the request of the Wertz family, they have asked that the city not shut down the aquatic center.
The parents of Megan Wertz, Alice & David Wertz, “we have expressed our support to the city for keeping the aquatic center open. The pool is dear to our family’s hearts.” Mayor Benny Jasso “we will continue to communicate with the Wertz family to ensure we properly memorialize Megan and her contributions to the aquatic center. I can also state that City Council, myself, the City Administrator with staff, along with other municipal employees across the State of New Mexico, are convening with the New Mexico Municipal League Risk Division to mitigate future risks associated with aquatic centers. The intent is to prevent any accident from happening again in the State of New Mexico.”