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Deadly Summer on I-40
On August 19, a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck was travelling Eastbound on Interstate 40 when it suffered a blowout. The resulting crash occurred just East of Laguna near milepost 131, turning fatal. One of the semi’s front tires blew, causing the truck to travel into the median and onto the Westbound travelling lane. The semi-truck collided head-on with a 2016 Freightliner semi-truck that was driven by Steven Kay Hales, a 64-year-old Utah man from St. George. Hales died as a result of the crash. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, according to the New Mexico State Police. The crash remains under investigation, but NMSP said it does appear the unnamed driver of the 2014 Freightliner was wearing their seatbelt correctly. Courtesy photo
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Summer 2021 has been fatal for travelers along Interstate 40. With construction flanking both sides of Cibola County – near Laguna, N.M. and where Cibola changes to McKinley County headed toward Gallup, N.M. – accidents were bound to happen, but Sheriff Mace said that the interstate is never as deadly as it has been this year. Interstate 40 is a busy stretch of road, boasting a full length of 2,555.10 miles from Barstow, California, to Wilmington, North Carolina, this stretch of road allows easy access for Cibola to reach larger cities like Albuquerque and Gallup, N.M.
“The information is out there for people to drive safely,” Sheriff Mace said, “People need to stop playing with their phones when driving and pay attention to the road.” The warning comes after a Grants local, Henry Mondragon, died as a result of an accident this past weekend on I-40.
According to the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office, Mondragon was travelling Westbound, heading toward Grants, when his vehicle left the road and travelled into the Eastbound Lane of oncoming traffic. The resulting crash resulted in at least two fatalities, including Mondragon, who was travelling alone.
“It’s been a deadly summer on the interstate,” Sheriff Mace explained, “Us, Laguna, state, we’ve all dealt with a bunch of these crashes this year.” The sheriff explained that these accidents can be gruesome sights, which need to be investigated and cleaned up by responding crews, which can sometimes turn into multiagency operations with fire, emergency medical services, and police often working together to clear and clean the crash site.
On August 8, Hector Sanchez, an 18-year-old from Albuquerque, N.M. and incoming senior at Rio Grande High School was killed in a fatal car accident near the Pueblo of Laguna on I-40, the case was handled by the NMSP and involved a semi-truck. Days later, Sanchez’ family went to the site of the crash and made a shocking discovery, his hand and parts of his flesh were still at the site of the accident. The failure in leaving body parts at the scene generated statewide condemnation aimed at the NMSP, driving Sheriff Mace’s point about the gruesome nature of these accidents.
Sheriff Mace noted one constant in this year’s rising fatal accidents: semitrucks.
“They almost all include semi-trucks, I don’t know if it’s because drivers aren’t paying attention to each other, or if they’re drowsy-driving,” Sheriff Mace said, “It’s a cocktail of numerous things. We can’t just point to one factor – people need to pay attention to the road.”
The sheriff said that there are efforts across Cibola and statewide to help educate drivers about Zipper Merges, the primary method of merging into one lane when in construction zones. Sheriff Mace added that distracted and drowsy driving is a dangerous practice and can be fatal.
“Quit playing with mobile devices and obey traffic laws. People need to keep their tempers in check and keep their attention on the road,” Sheriff Mace explained.