Angel Fire woman killed in Taos Canyon rollover
An Angel Fire woman who was reported missing Friday evening (Sept. 14) was found dead over the weekend after her SUV crashed off of U.S. 64 East in Taos Canyon, according to Taos County Undersheriff Steve Miera.
The single-vehicle accident was reported around noon Saturday (Sept. 15), drawing a response from law enforcement, fire personnel and a medical team, which launched a recovery operation when they found Bonny Marie Damron, 36, had died in the crash. She was the only one in the SUV.
Damron had gone to El Rito for an 8 a.m. appointment Friday and was expected back in Angel Fire that day. She spoke with a friend through the Bluetooth device in her vehicle about 11 a.m. Friday, shortly before entering the canyon where cell service is unavailable, according to her mother Betty Walker. A few minutes later, her SUV went off the road at mile marker 259, down a steep embankment and hit a boulder, Walker said investigators told her.
“She did not fall asleep. She had just been on the phone a few minutes before,” Walker said.
Damron wasn’t found until 24 hours later.
According to EMS dispatch reports, a first responder used ropes to rappel down the steep terrain where the SUV had rolled to reach Damron. She was pronounced dead at the scene by members of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.
Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
Almeada Martinson, a friend of Damron’s, had posted photos of the missing woman and a message on the Taos Speaks Up Again Facebook page Friday, saying the 36-year-old had left for an appointment in El Rito, but hadn’t returned as planned. A missing person report was filed with New Mexico State Police at about midnight Friday.
Damron operated a small property management business in the mountain town 40 minutes east of Taos.
Damron, formerly Bonny Hill, was born in Amarillo, Texas. She had lived in Angel Fire for about a decade. She was taking voice coaching and was a member of the Fireball Strikers bowling team at Gutters in Taos. “She loved it,” said Walker.
Damron was devoted to her three small children: two little boys and a girl, all under 9 years old.
“She thought the world of her children,” said Walker. “She loved being a mom.”
Damron is survived by her three children; her mother; her brother, William Crit Noland III; her two half-sisters Erika and AnnaLee; her grandmother Edna Christine Walker and her grandfather Thomas Ray Walker.
A memorial service will be held, but the details are still to be determined.