Alcohol reported in fatal collision

Two drivers were pronounced dead on scene in a head-on collision, with one was in critical condition.

At approximately 2 p.m. on May 8, law enforcement responded to the collision on Interstate 25 near mile marker 146, resulting in the fatalities of Norma Carmona of Polvadera and Antonio Barraza Mendez of Denver.

According to Socorro County Sheriff reports, two of the passengers were flown out to a hospital in Albuquerque with severe injuries, and the other three passengers were transported to Socorro General Hospital for a variety of injuries.

After the investigation, Socorro County Deputy Chad Whitson was able to determine that Carmona was traveling 83.43 miles per hour in the 75 zone, and her toxicology report showed a blood alcohol content of .265 and a positive for cannabinoids. Barraza’s toxicology report did not have any findings.

Reggie Peralto, Socorro County Sergeant, reported he arrived at the scene at approximately 2:12 p.m. and saw Carmona’s gold passenger car in the center of the southbound lane. The vehicle was on all four tires and he observed very heavy damage all around the vehicle.

According to his report, a couple of hundred feet south of the gold vehicle was a black Dodge Durango that went over the safety guardrail and came to a complete stop on all four tires. The Dodge had five occupants, including four minors: a two-year-old, a four-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a 17-year-old, plus one adult.

Peralto reported that based on the evidence collected, it appeared that Carmona was traveling northbound on Interstate 25, lost control and sideswiped the safety guard rail. It appeared she overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide sideways across the road into the median and directly into oncoming traffic in the southbound lane. Carmona’s vehicle appeared to strike the Black Dodge Durango head-on, and the point of contact was in the middle of the southbound lane. After the impact, the Dodge struck and rolled over the guardrail.

At Socorro General Hospital, the minors reported to the sheriff that they were heading south for a vacation and had just left McDonald’s in Socorro when the collision occurred.