A serious traffic accident occurred Sunday morning on New Mexico State Road 68 near the small community of Rinconada. State Police officers responding to the scene found two passenger vehicles involved in a collision that forced the highway to close in both directions.
What happened
According to New Mexico State Police Sergeant Ricardo Breceda, a silver Subaru carrying a driver and two passengers was stopped in the roadway, waiting to turn into a nearby business. While the Subaru was stationary, a Toyota passenger car struck it from behind.
The impact caused significant damage to the Subaru and left the rear‑seat passenger with serious injuries. Emergency responders airlifted the injured passenger to a hospital in Albuquerque for advanced medical care.
Fatal outcome
Despite the rapid transport, the rear‑seat passenger later succumbed to the injuries, as confirmed by Sergeant Breceda in an email to the Taos News. The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of family members.
Local response
Rinconada resident Cecilia Gonzales, who was walking her dog near the crash site, reported seeing one of the vehicle occupants being lifted onto a helicopter. Gonzales noted that the accident occurred on the straight‑away section of NM‑68 that runs through the town, an area frequented by visitors to local businesses such as a white‑water rafting outfitter, a brewery, and seasonal fruit vendors.
State Police are currently investigating the cause of the crash. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Related incidents
Earlier in the weekend, emergency services from the Town of Taos and Taos County responded to a separate crash just after midnight on Saturday. A passenger vehicle struck several boulders on NM‑68 near the 25‑mile marker north of Rinconada and was subsequently hit by a semi‑truck. That incident resulted in no serious injuries.
Impact on travel
Following the Sunday collision, NM‑68 was closed to traffic in both directions while investigators cleared the scene and conducted their preliminary assessment. Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes until the highway re‑opened.
Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise caution when traveling on NM‑68, especially in areas where traffic may slow or stop for local businesses. State Police encourage anyone with information about the crash to contact the Taos County Sheriff’s Office.
Original reporting: Taos News — read the source article.
