2 Dead in Christmas Eve Crash, Alcohol Suspected

Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 4:04 PM

The driver of the Buick Mr. Dannon Jim (34), and the right rear passenger Shynoah Jim (11) both from Tsaile, AZ sustained fatal injuries during the crash, and were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The other two occupants of the Buick, also family members, were transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center, and subsequently flown to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, NM with critical injuries.

From NM State Police:

Early this morning around 1:46 a.m. New Mexico State Police were notified of a crash near the intersection of US 64 milepost 42 and County Road 6500 in Kirtland, NM. The crash involved a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and a sport utility vehicle with multiple occupants.

Officers arrived on scene and learned that the 2018 Kenworth CMV was approaching a red light at the intersection and had begun to slow. The CMV was struck from behind by a 2016 Buick Sport utility vehicle traveling west, in the same direction. Indicators at the scene show no signs of skid marks or braking prior to the impact.

The other two occupants of the Buick, also family members, were transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center, and subsequently flown to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, NM with critical injuries.

The driver and co-driver of the Commercial Motor Vehicle were not injured in the crash.

Alcohol does appear to be a factor in this crash which is still under investigation.

There is no further information available at this time.

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