The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department believes the driver of a Nissan Altima who
struck a medical transport vehicle head-on on I-25 this morning
struck another vehicle approximately 13 minutes earlier. ---
Sheriff Robert Garcia says Joe Mascarenas of Ribera was the first to call dispatch regarding the Nissan driver, saying she almost went head-on with him and sideswiped his vehicle. The close call happened near the Glorieta or Pecos exit of I-25, while Mascarenas was driving his Dodge van north and the Nissan driver was proceeding south in the northbound lane.
A few minutes later, the woman police believe was the Nissan driver, whose name has not been released, was ejected and killed when she collided head-on with a Rocky Mountain EMS medical transport vehicle driven by EMT Vanessa Carrillo, age 19.
Deputies were attempting to locate the dangerous driver when the second crash occurred, Garcia says.
Carrillo, who is in critical condition, is currently undergoing surgery for her numerous fractures, according to Rocky Mountain EMS Director of Operations Jennifer Guhl. Guhl said she and Carrillo had driven a patient to Albuquerque and Carrillo dropped Guhl off just before the crash.
The other occupant of the Nissan was taken to CHRISTUS St Vincent Medical Hospital and is in stable condition, according to Santa Fe Police Chief Aric Wheeler.
Wheeler says the names of the Nissan's driver and passenger won't be released until late tonight at the earliest. He said police have spoken with the surviving passenger of the Nissan, but she hasn't given a formal statement yet.
