New Mexico was hit with another powerful dust storm on Tuesday, causing chaos on highways and interstates across the state. The storm led to several crashes, at least three injuries, and road closures that left many drivers stranded.
One of the worst accidents happened on Interstate 25 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque near State Highway 16, where thick clouds of dust made it nearly impossible to see. A multi-vehicle crash forced emergency crews to respond quickly. Some people were taken to the hospital, but officials didn’t confirm how many. The highway was shut down for hours, finally reopening in the afternoon. Even after traffic started moving again, state troopers had to guide drivers who were stuck in the mess.
In Otero County, another major crash involved at least five semi-trucks on U.S. Highway 54. Among those injured were three prisoners who had been traveling in a transport van caught in the wreckage. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths. The situation got so bad that authorities decided to close a 101-mile stretch of the highway to prevent more accidents.
Meanwhile, Interstate 40 near Milagro was also shut down after a massive crash involving commercial trucks. The crash sparked fires, making things even more dangerous. At the time, strong winds and nearby wildfires had already made visibility nearly impossible. Officials expected eastbound lanes to stay closed well into the night.
Roswell wasn’t spared either. The city saw wind gusts reaching 75 mph, forcing the closure of parts of U.S. highways 70, 380, and 285. In Albuquerque, gusts hit 68 mph, reducing visibility to just half a mile and even disrupting flights at the Sunport airport.
With wind speeds as high as 74 mph in Clines Corners, 71 mph in Carlsbad, and 68 mph in Truth or Consequences, much of New Mexico remained under Dust Storm Warnings throughout the evening. Officials urged drivers to stay off the roads until conditions improved.
