Three Killed in Multi-Truck Accident on Hatch Highway near Hatch, NM
Hatch, NM -- March 2, 2023, three people were killed due to an accident where multiple semi-trucks collided along State Route 26.
According to officials, the incident happened between Deming and Hatch, near the Luna and Dona Ana County lines, early Thursday.
Initial details about the crash say that two semi-trucks somehow crashed head-on into each other. The cause of that crash has yet to be determined, and identities also remain unclear. Sources say three people died due to the collision.
Beyond that, authorities have released very few details. I'm not entirely surprised, given the apparent seriousness of this awful event. Any fatal crash is serious, but one that kills three people and involves two commercial trucks is only likely to be about as complex as a crash investigation can get. The question is if authorities are able to dedicate the time and resources it takes to handle such complex accidents.
I have no particular reason to doubt authorities here, but rather I have a long career of seeing authorities of varying capabilities. Put simply, if officers aren't given the right tools or training, they may miss something important unless they or the victims and families seek out more experienced independent accident reconstructionists.
Hopefully those steps are being taken here. With so many worlds turned upside down, those involved here deserve nothing less than the full story of what went wrong. I'd hate to think steps weren't being taken to get them the answers they deserve.
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