At around 5:00 PM, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media that “all of I-40 westbound and eastbound just before the Zuzax exit are closed at this time due to a serious vehicle crash involving a passenger car and a semi. The car is currently on fire and deputies and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue are on scene assisting.”
According to a witness who drove through the area, the car was reportedly pinned under the semi when both the semi and passenger car were on fire.
In an update posted at 7:29 PM, BCSO posted that the semi is on fire and first responders have continued to fight the fire. All lanes of I-40 east and west are still completely shut down. Significant delays in travel have occurred and will continue for an unknown amount of time.
We heard from BCSO that one person died in this crash.
NM ROADS shows EB and WB are closed at mile marker 176. There is also an extensive traffic backup because of the extended road closure (see photos below).
We have received messages on Facebook from people living in the east mountains that westbound is not closed. As of 8:30 PM, we have reached out to BCSO’s PIO and are trying to find out if westbound I-40 is still closed. If we learn more, we will update you. As of 8:30 PM, NM roads still shows WB as being closed.
UPDATE:
We heard from BCSO and they are attempting to reach the east mountain dispatch to verify if westbound lanes of I-40 are closed or not. In the email, BCSO said “according to dispatch east and westbound have been closed for the last 3 hours.” But they were unsure if NMDOT had updated their signs to assist with traffic but they were attempting to confirm.
A driver that follows ABQRAW stated that they just drove on WB I-40 and the road was open. Another individual posted a photo on FB showing WB as being open, but an ambulance appeared to be driving in the wrong lanes of travel.
UPDATE 2:
As of 9:08 PM, we have not heard of any updates from NM DOT or BCSO. NMROADS still shows both EB and WB closed. We have heard from at least four people driving in the area that westbound is open.
UPDATE 3:
Based on NM DOT camera footage we have been watching, you can see semis and other vehicles traveling on I-40 WB. In the NMDOT cam photos and video from Davi Colon, which are below, you can see vehicles traveling on I-40 WB.
EB is still blocked between exits 173 to 178. Eastbound traffic is still at an epic standstill, one person reported siting in eastbound traffic for over two hours.
Video Credit – Davi Colon
NM DOT Camera Footage from 7:56 PM
