After a dust storm warning issued by the National Weather Service, the agency posted online that there was a major vehicle pileup amid storms throughout the area that shut down a stretch of Interstate 10 close to Lordsburg on Sunday night.

Based on the statement of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the crash happened on I-10 westbound at milepost 35. The crash site is just east of Lordsburg which caused the shutting down of a portion of the route.

According to KVIA, the National Weather Service stated that a dust storm warning was issued in Hidalgo County during the time of the crash. The agency mentioned that the warning was due to 60 mile an hour wind gusts that produced blowing dust with significantly reduced visibility for motorists.

Moreover, wrecked semi-trucks and cars blocked the interstate, which was closed until further notice. There was the word of injured travelers being tended to at the scene. However, the total number of vehicles involved in the pileup and the extent of injuries was not immediately clear.

Further details regarding the crash were not disclosed. I-10 is considered by many as an accident-prone area.

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Another Multi-Vehicle Crash in New Mexico

Less than a month ago, three family members from Arkansas were killed in a vehicle accident in New Mexico. The family were on a road trip to California when the accident happened.

After a call for a multiple-vehicle collision with injuries and possible fatalities, at around 10:30 p.m on Friday, June 25, 2021, the McKinley County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), based out of Gallup, New Mexico responded to the scene. The deputies were dispatched to the 63-mile marker of Interstate 40 westbound, which was about 40 miles east of Gallup.

According to deputies who responded at the scene, five vehicles were involved in the collision. There were two semi-trucks, and three passenger vehicles found at the crash site.

Based on the statement of the McKinley County Sheriff's Office, while the investigation is still ongoing, it is believed that the driver of a semi-truck was approaching a traffic backup because of a collision being handled in the construction zone ahead, KARK reported.

Moreover, the MCSO stated that the driver of the truck failed to slow down for slow-moving traffic. The semi-driver collided with the back end of a passenger vehicle which killed all three occupants. The passenger car was pushed into the back of a minivan that caused injury to the passengers inside the vehicle. The vehicle was then pushed into another passenger car and then bumped to the front of another semi-truck before a stop.

The passengers of the first car and minivan were families traveling together. The MCSO stated that out of respect for the family, the names of those deceased were not being released by their agency.

Furthermore, MCSO currently works with the New Mexico State Police to execute warrants on the speed of the vehicles for their Event Data Recorders (EDRs), which is also known as "black boxes." The said information will determine the speeds at the time of the collision which will help the investigation.

Based on Undersheriff James Maiorano III, with the McKinley County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Office investigated the collision as a vehicular homicide case. Maiorano added that after the completion of the investigation, they would meet with the District Attorney's office to discuss charges, if applicable.

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Written by Jess Smith