Saturday, April 11, 2009

Woman dies in interstate rollover

Gerald Garner Jr. El Defensor Chieftain Editor, ggarner@dchieftain.com

An Albuquerque woman was killed and her three small children injured after their sport utility vehicle rolled on Interstate 25 near San Antonio, N.M., early Wednesday morning.

New Mexico State Police identified the woman as 37-year-old Maria Chavira-Moreno of Albuquerque

NMSP officer Steven Carter reported that the accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Mile Marker 136.

The officer said the accident occurred as Chavira-Moreno was traveling southbound in the passing lane when the vehicle began to "yaw," or veer to the left.

"For unknown reasons, the vehicle started to yaw," Carter said during a Thursday, April 9, telephone interview. "It appeared she was heading toward the median when the vehicle rolled."

Carter said it appeared the vehicle had rolled 2-1/2 times and came to rest on its roof.

Chavira-Moreno was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, the officer confirmed. The children — ranging in age from 5 months to 4 years old — were properly restrained in the vehicle.

The children were transported to Socorro General Hospital. As of Thursday, April 9, the children were listed in stable condition.

Carter said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the fatal accident, but police are awaiting toxicology and Office of the Medical Investigator reports.

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