
SOCORRO COUNTY, NM — One person was hospitalized Friday after a pair of crashes involving a medical helicopter and a semi-trailer on U.S. Highway 60 near Belen, reports KOAT.
The events unfolded near the intersection with New Mexico State Road 47 at about 7:00 a.m.
According to New Mexico State Police, a pickup truck was heading eastbound on US-60 when it hit a westbound semi-trailer head-on.
Authorities said a medical helicopter was dispatched to the scene for the pickup truck driver, who suffered undisclosed injuries.
At one point, a third vehicle experienced a brake failure, crashed through the established roadblock, and struck one of the helicopter’s rotor blades.
Even though the second crash left the helicopter inoperable in the immediate aftermath, first responders were able to transport the injured pickup driver to an Albuquerque hospital.
No other injuries were reported, but traffic was forced to divert onto U.S. Highway 47.
NMSP and the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office are carrying out an investigation.
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