UPDATE: 45 vehicles involved in pileup that claimed driver’s life near Santa Rosa

GUADALUPE COUNTY, NM — Authorities have identified the driver who died following a major chain-reaction crash Monday morning east of Santa Rosa, according to KOB4.

The accident was reported on westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 291 to Cuervo. Shortly before 11:00 a.m., all westbound traffic in the area came to a halt.

New Mexico State Police attributed “driver inattention” to the originating incident, which involved a westbound semi-truck rear-ending a passenger van. 43 other vehicles subsequently became involved in a pileup behind that crash.

The driver of the van, David McGarrah, 71, of Neosho, Mississippi, was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Authorities did not immediately disclosed the identity and/or condition of his passenger.

The driver of the semi, a 21-year-old Indianapolis resident, was not reported hurt.

NMSP said several other injuries were reported following the multi-vehicle wreck, but as an investigation is pending, no further information has been shared.

An investigation into the initial crash remains underway, but officials say both “inclement weather” and “driver inattention” appear to have been factors.

Crews respond to accident on I-25 SB in Mora County

MORA COUNTY, NM — A vehicle crash was reported early Friday afternoon on Interstate 25 in southwest Wagon Mound, according to NM Roads.

The accident took place on the southbound lanes at mile marker 384, in an area about 28 miles south of Springer. It was first recorded in the NM Roads map index at 12:33 p.m.

Preliminary details indicate that area roadways to be “slushy, snow packed and icy in spots,” under “clear skies” and good visibility.

At this time, no information regarding the cause or nature of the wreck has been made available.

No major injuries have been reported.

APD responds to accident on Academy Rd in NE Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Albuquerque Police were dispatched to a crash Friday morning in northeast Albuquerque’s Antelope Run neighborhood, reports APD Traffic.

The accident happened at the intersection of Academy Road Northeast and Tennyson Street Northeast. Officers arrived on the scene at around 8:41 a.m.

As of this writing, the Albuquerque Police Department has not provided further details indicating the cause of the wreck or the types of vehicles involved.

APD responding to a vehicle crash at Academy/Tennyson NE @abqfire

— APD Traffic (@ABQTraffic) January 12, 2024

Officials have not confirmed whether anyone was seriously hurt and/or transported to a hospital.

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