Fatal Crash Briefly Closes Eastbound I-40 Near Laguna; Traffic Diverted at NM 6 Exit

  • Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera Traffic backs up near the I-40/NM 6 (Exit 126) interchange west of Albuquerque as New Mexico State Police investigate a fatal crash and divert drivers off the interstate.
    Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera Traffic backs up near the I-40/NM 6 (Exit 126) interchange west of Albuquerque as New Mexico State Police investigate a fatal crash and divert drivers off the interstate.
  • A long line of vehicles remains stopped on eastbound I-40 at NM 6 (Exit 126) while the crash scene is investigated and traffic continues to be diverted. Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera
    A long line of vehicles remains stopped on eastbound I-40 at NM 6 (Exit 126) while the crash scene is investigated and traffic continues to be diverted. Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera
  • Traffic flows normally again near I-40/NM 6 (Exit 126) after the closure related to Wednesday morning’s fatal crash was cleared. Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera
    Traffic flows normally again near I-40/NM 6 (Exit 126) after the closure related to Wednesday morning’s fatal crash was cleared. Courtesy: NMDOT traffic camera

    CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. - A fatal two-vehicle crash closed eastbound Interstate 40 near Laguna on Wednesday morning, briefly disrupting travel for Cibola County residents headed toward Albuquerque and beyond.

    New Mexico State Police closed the eastbound lanes and diverted traffic off the interstate at the State Road 6 exit (Exit 126/NM 6–Los Lunas Interchange), according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s NMRoads.

    State police were investigating the crash, and at least one person was confirmed dead.

    The Cibola Citizen issued a traffic alert Wednesday morning advising drivers traveling from Grants to Albuquerque to consider delaying their trip due to the closure and expected delays.

    The roadway later reopened. At 11:19 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, the roads were reported clear. Earlier, at 9:13 a.m., the investigation was still underway and the road had remained blocked.

    State police have publicly described the incident as a two-vehicle crash with one fatality, but additional details were not immediately available. The Cibola Citizen requested more information from New Mexico State Police and did not receive further details at the time of publication.

    Reader Advisory: Scam Accounts

    The Cibola Citizen is aware of social media accounts claiming to be at the scene and presenting themselves as eyewitnesses.

    The Cibola Citizen believes these accounts to be fake scam accounts and emphasizes they are not affiliated with the newspaper.

    For current road conditions and real-time updates, drivers are encouraged to check nmroads. com.