Staff Reports
A crash between two passenger cars led to another crash involving two semi-trucks on Interstate 40 on March 10.
The initial crash occurred around 1 pm. The New Mexico State Police responded to the crash near mile marker 19.
According to a statement from the NMSP, a blue 2007 BMW, occupied by two individuals, attempted to turn across the median when the car lost traction and collided with a second vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, which had three occupants.
A witness to the accident posted on the Sun’s Facebook page and said the Tahoe was hit so hard it flipped in the air before landing on the other side of the interstate. Two cats reportedly ran away from the damaged cars, and a senior dog and cat were picked up by McKinley County Animal Control
All occupants from both vehicles were transported to a local hospital. The driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe, which was traveling eastbound on I-40, later passed away due to injuries sustained in the crash. The deceased’s name wasn’t released at press time because the NMSP is still trying to contact the victim’s next of kin.
While NMSP and medical personnel were cleaning up from the accident, they blocked off parts of the east and westbound lanes of I-40, and traffic was backed up quite a bit.
The backup led to another accident as well.
Around 2:15 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Ivan Tsethlikai Jr. was dispatched to the eastbound mile marker 13 after two semi-trucks collided. One of the semi-trucks reportedly caught fire.
Tsethlikai met with one of the drivers, who said he was stopped for the traffic when the second semi-truck collided into his.
After Tsethlikai met with the first driver, he spoke to the second driver, who reportedly caused the accident.
The second driver said he was traveling eastbound at about 70 mph when he came upon the backed up traffic. He said he used his brake to try to slow down and stop, but it was too late. He collided with the first driver’s trailer, which ripped open upon impact.
According to Tsethlikai’s report, both CMVs suffered heavy damage, and the second vehicle’s trailer was in the median of the road.
Oranges, kiwis, and lemons that the second driver was transporting were reportedly scattered all over the road.
Medical personnel checked the drivers over and it was determined they were uninjured.
The driver of the second vehicle, Amit Kumar, was given a careless driving citation for being inattentive to the heavy traffic backup and for failing to slow down and stop.
