Full Notification

December 23, 2009

Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Accident due to poor road conditions.


The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a major crash on US 285 at mile marker 282 (approximately 7 miles south of El Dorado) involving three vehicles.

Santa Fe County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call at 9:58 am reporting a serious to possible fatal accident.

Investigation reveals that a 2002 Suzuki (SUV) Grand Vitara traveling Northbound when it lost control on a patch of ice/snow slush on the roadway and veered left onto the Southbound lane and crashing head on with a Southbound 2002 Volkswagon Beetle. The third vehicle a 2009 GMC Yukon which was traveling Southbound behind the Volkswagon also collided with the Volkswagon, and possibly the Suzuki.

The male driver and female passenger of the Volkswagon Beetle and the female passenger of the Suzuki were transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center with serious life threatening injuries. The driver of the Suzuki received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital along with his female passenger. All occupants of the GMC Yukon were not injured.

At approximately 12:30 pm, the driver of the Volkswagon Beetle died at the hospital. All occupants of the 3 vehicles were wearing seatbelts. Alcohol is NOT suspected.

Identification of the passengers are pending further investigation.