Five fatal crashes around NM leave six people dead

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Six people were killed and several more were injured in separate car crashes around the state Friday and Saturday – three of which were head-on collisions.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in any of the incidents, according to New Mexico State Police.

The first crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. Friday on State Road 11 in Luna County.

Officer Ray Wilson, a State Police spokesman, said 20-year-old Caleb De Santiago, of Las Cruces, was traveling north in a Nissan Tsuru when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 43-year-old Columbus man driving a Toyota Corolla.

De Santiago died at the scene. The other driver was taken to the hospital and his condition was unknown.

Several hours later, around 3 p.m., there was another head-on collision in Luna County – this time leaving two people dead.

Wilson said a 15-year-old was driving a Toyota Tacoma east on State Road 26 when he crossed the center line and struck a Dodge pickup truck head-on. Both of his passengers – Martyn Pearson, 38, and Alexandra Olsen, 40 – died at the scene.

The 70-year-old driver of the Dodge pickup and the 15-year-old were taken to the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Pearson and Olsen owned Gila Hike and Bike shop in downtown Silver City and were well-known in the area, according the Las Cruces Sun News.