State Police Investigate Fatal Accident on I-40; Guadalupe County

(Guadalupe County, NM) – At approximately 2:30 p.m., state police investigated an unfortunate motor vehicle accident on Interstate 40 near mile marker 269 that resulted in the death of three people and injured two others. The investigation revealed that a 2001 Mercury Grande Marque, displaying Iowa registration, was west bound on Interstate 40 and drove upon an area of the roadway that was covered with rain and hale. The conditions caused the Mercury to hydroplane out of control. The Mercury continued through the median and into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes of I-40. The driver of a westbound 2003 Ford Pick up was not able to avoid the crash and collided with the passenger side of the Mercury.

The Mercury was occupied by the driver and two passengers and all three were pronounced dead at the scene. Names will be released when next of kin are notified. The pick-up was driven by George Carter (57 of Albuquerque) and Tommie Carter, (55 of Albuquerque) was a passenger. George and Tommie Carter were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Santa Rosa with minor injuries.

The state police have investigated several fatal accidents recently, which were weather related involving heavy rain and hale. The motoring public’s safety is important to the state police and we would like to remind motorist to drive carefully and reduce their speed as they drive through these types of storms.

***