Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 5/2/2022
Santa Fe County, NM – On April 30, 2022, at approximately 9:54 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving three vehicles on Interstate 25 near milepost 298, by Glorieta, NM.
The initial investigation indicated a 2003 Toyota Corolla passenger car, driven by Andrea Renee Ortega (39) of Glorieta, NM, was traveling south on Interstate 25. For reasons unknown, the Toyota left the roadway, struck a guardrail, and crossed over the center dirt median into the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 where it came to stop blocking the left lane. The Toyota was struck by a northbound Ford F-450 pickup truck. The driver of the Toyota, Ortega, who was not wearing a seatbelt was ejected from the vehicle. A second northbound vehicle, a 2013 Ford Escape SUV struck Ortega. Ortega sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of Medical Investigator.
The driver of the Ford F-450, a 51-year-old male, and the driver of the Ford Escape, a 30-year-old male were both uninjured in the crash.
It is unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. Seatbelts were properly used by all drivers, except for Ortega. The driver’s names of the Ford F-450 and the Ford Escape will not be released by State Police, due to them not being charged. This crash remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.