Multiple Vehicle Fatal Crash on Interstate 40 in Guadalupe County

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Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 2/03/2022

Guadalupe County, NM – On February 2, 2022, at approximately 9:38 a.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving multiple Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) and passenger vehicles on Interstate 40 near milepost 271, west of Santa Rosa, NM.

The initial investigation indicated a 2021 Peterbilt CMV, driven by a 62-year-old male was traveling east on Interstate 40 in inclement weather. Near milepost 271, the CMV collided into the rear end of a 2020 Freightliner CMV, which was driven by a 35-year-old male. Both drivers were uninjured. After the collision, eleven additional CMV’s along with three passenger cars all traveling east on Interstate 40 crashed into each other. One of the passenger cars involved, a 2012 Chrysler van had six occupants inside the vehicle, with ages ranging from 13-39 years of age. One of those passengers, Florin Lordache (35) of Romania, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of Medical. The other five occupants sustained unknown injuries and they were all transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital. Their conditions are not known. All occupants of the CMVs and the other two passenger cars that were involved in the crash were uninjured.

Road and weather conditions appear to be contributing factors. Alcohol was not a factor and seatbelts appear to have been properly utilized. State Police generally does not identify the names of victims and drivers who are not charged with a crime. This crash remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.