Collision briefly shuts down U.S. 84/285
A commercial truck hauling trash was struck from behind by a semitrailer tanker truck late Friday morning in the southbound lanes of U.S. 84/285 near Tesuque, forcing authorities to briefly close all lanes of traffic as a emergency crews contained a fire and cleared debris.
New Mexico State Police said no serious injuries were reported, but Tony Ruscetti, a Santa Fe County Fire Department battalion chief, said both drivers were transported in stable condition to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.
A state police news release said an initial investigation indicates that the truck hauling trash was traveling below the posted speed limit when it was rearended by the tanker truck about 11:15 a.m.
The cab of the tanker truck caught fire, but the flames were stopped before they reached the tanker area, Ruscetti said.
Ruscetti said members of the Tesuque volunteer fire district led the way in extinguishing the blaze in the cab.
“There was no impingement on the tanker at all,” Ruscetti said. “It was confined to the cab only.”
The state police statment late Friday afternoon said the incident was still under investigation.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff ’s Office said the northbound lanes reopened after some 20 minutes. Southbound traffic on U.S. 84/285 and a frontage road remained congested for hours afterward as authorities worked the scene.