Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 10/07/2021
San Juan County, NM– On October 5, 2021, at approximately 10:23 a.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a double fatal head-on crash on Navajo Route 5 near milepost 15, south of Farmington, NM.
The initial investigation indicated a 2019 Maserati passenger car, driven by a 27-year-old male from Surprise, AZ was traveling east on Navajo Route 5. Near milepost 15, for reasons unknown the Maserati drifted into oncoming traffic of the westbound lane and collided head-on with a westbound 2021 Volvo SUV. The driver of the Volvo, Michael Shannon McCraren (50) of Tucson, AZ sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of Medical Investigator. A passenger in the Volvo, a 48-year-old female from Tucson, AZ sustained unknown injuries and was transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital in Farmington, NM. She was later transported by air to the UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, NM.
The driver of the Maserati sustained unknown injuries in the crash and was transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital in Farmington, NM. A passenger in the Maserati, Hannah Elisabeth Cornelson (28) of Surprise, AZ sustained fatal injuries in the crash. She was transported to an area hospital in Farmington, NM where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash. This crash remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police with the assistance of the New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit and Aerial Drone Team. Based on the outcome of the crash investigation, charges may be pending for the driver of the Maserati.