One person died and two others were hospitalized Thursday afternoon when a semi-truck crashed into an RV on Interstate 40 near Moriarty, forcing a temporary closure of the major highway that serves as a key route through the area.
The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. at mile marker 204 on westbound I-40, approximately eight miles east of Moriarty, according to the City of Moriarty Fire Department.
Initial responders reported the semi-truck had heavy front-end damage while the RV was found “in multiple pieces,” the fire department said in a Facebook post.
The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator pronounced one person dead at the scene. University of New Mexico Lifeguard Air Ambulance transported two other people to Albuquerque area hospitals, one in stable condition and the other in critical condition.
The crash prompted responses from multiple agencies working together on the emergency. The City of Moriarty Fire Department responded to assist Torrance County Fire Department crews. The City of Moriarty Police Department, Torrance County Sheriff’s Office, Torrance County EMS, New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico Department of Transportation also responded to the scene.
Interstate 40 westbound was temporarily shut down while law enforcement conducted their investigation, but the highway has since been reopened.
The crash remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.
Due to the severity of the incident, the City of Moriarty Fire Department said it would not release photographs of the crash scene.
The collision adds to ongoing traffic safety concerns on Interstate 40, which has been identified as one of the hazardous highway sections in New Mexico where high traffic volumes and speeding are prevalent issues, according to recent traffic safety data.
