One Injured in Crash with 18-Wheeler on FM 1764 in Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe, NM — July 23, 2022, one person was critically injured in a crash between a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer on FM 1764 in Santa Fe.
Authorities say the incident happened Saturday morning at FM 1764 and FM 646. Preliminary investigation suggests the pickup driver was eastbound on FM 1764 when they allegedly ran a red light at the FM 646 intersection. The pickup then crashed into the trailer of an 18-wheeler passing through the crossroads on a green light.
The pickup driver suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a regional hospital. No other injuries were reported.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Truck Accident on FM 1764 in Santa Fe
I often say there's no such thing as an open-and-shut crash, even if preliminary reports seem pretty clear. For instance, the news says the victim ran a red light in Santa Fe. I wasn't there and have no particular reason to doubt that, but at the same time a few vague sentences in the news and a police once-over at the scene certainly don't account for all the possible variables.
It's important to keep an open mind and investigate carefully rather than jumping to a conclusion and staying there. Things really could boil down to something as simple as the victim running a light, but what if their brakes failed or locked up? Did they try to run a solid red light as suggested, or was it still changing from yellow? How fast were both trucks traveling? Did the big rig just keep moving through a steady green light, or did it start forward from a full stop just before the collision? Could anything else have played a part--weather, road conditions, visibility?
I'm not trying to overcomplicate things here. My point is just that sometimes people get a little too eager to point fingers without first considering the whole picture.
Only careful investigation and crash reconstruction could really say what happened. Making sure the people in charge of that have the experience and equipment to consider all the possibilities, even less-likely ones, is crucial for ensuring the truth is found and the victim receives the help they deserve.
