Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 4/18/2022
Socorro County, NM – On April 16, 2022, at approximately 3:01 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a single-vehicle fatal rollover crash on Interstate 25 near milepost 143, south of Socorro, NM.
The initial investigation indicated a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, driven by a 53-year-old-female from Albuquerque, NM, was traveling south on Interstate 25. For reasons still under investigation the Jeep left the roadway and rolled. There was a total of five occupants in the Jeep at the time of the crash. One of those passengers, Lynn Otero (63) of Albuquerque, NM sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of Medical Investigator. A 14-year-old teenage passenger in the vehicle, who was not wearing a seatbelt was ejected from the vehicle. The teenager sustained unknown injuries and was transported to an area hospital in Socorro, NM.
The driver, along with two other passengers in the Jeep, a 66-year-old and a 13-year-old teenager also sustained unknown injuries and they were all transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital in Socorro, NM.
Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor. Seatbelts appear to have been utilized, except for the passenger who was ejected. For the privacy of the family, the names of the passengers will not be released. The name of the driver will also not be released at this time due to no charges being filed. This crash remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.