Man facing charges in crash that killed woman south of Santa Fe

SANTA FE, NM – A man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal accident south of Santa Fe on Saturday afternoon, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The crash happened near the intersection of U.S. 285 and Avenida Eldorado shortly before 4:30 p.m. Witnesses said 21-year-old Jaydin Loretto was driving a Nissan Sentra when he crashed into a Toyota pickup truck. Loretto was reported to have been weaving through traffic and driving at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour prior to the collision, authorities said.

A woman in the pickup truck, 64-year-old Lisa Bransford of Eldorado, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at an area hospital.

A sheriff’s deputy who responded to the scene alleged that Loretto smelled of alcohol and spoke with delayed and slurred speech.

Loretto was charged with vehicular homicide from drunken driving, reckless driving and driving with a revoked license, and was booked into the Santa Fe County jail.

Authorities said Loretto declined to speak with investigators, and declined to submit to a blood-alcohol test, but a judge signed a warrant allowing investigators to draw his blood.

Accident blocks lane on US 70 near Holloman Air Force Base

OTERO COUNTY, NM – An accident affected traffic in a section of Otero County on Wednesday afternoon.

According to an alert from NMRoads at 2:15 p.m., the incident happened on U.S. 70 eastbound at mile marker 200, six miles west of Holloman Air Force Base.

The eastbound lane of the highway was shut down while the wreck was being cleared from the roadway. Drivers were advised to use caution, reduce speed, and watch for all emergency personnel and equipment in the area.

Injuries reported after vehicle crashes into sign in Chaves County

CHAVES COUNTY, NM – The Chaves County Sheriff’s Office was at the scene of an accident involving a pickup truck on Monday night.

According to the office’s Facebook post, deputies were dispatched to 285 South and Morgan Road at about 9:30 p.m. for a single-vehicle crash with injuries.

It was reported that a pickup struck an electronic construction sign in a construction area and was blocking the lanes of travel. Deputies arrived and found that the vehicle had been abandoned and had extensive front-end damage. No further details were released regarding the injuries.

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If you have lost a loved one in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or criminal intent, you have a right to justice beyond what the criminal courts can provide. The compassionate Albuquerque wrongful death attorneys at Parnall Law will fight fiercely for the maximum compensation your family needs to move forward, as well as the justice your loved one deserves. Let us address your questions and concerns in a free, no-obligation legal consultation where we can review your case. Reach out today via our contact form or by calling (505) 268-6500.