Blanco Woman Killed in Crash

The initial investigation indicated that the Nissan Altima driven by Leanna Florez, 24, of Blanco, NM was traveling west on U.S. 64.  For unknown reasons the Altima crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the Toyota Tundra.  Florez, who doesn’t appear to have been wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. 

From NM State Police

Monday, October 31, 2022

On October 29, at about 4:00 p.m., New Mexico State Police officers were dispatched to U.S. Highway 64 near milepost 79, east of Bloomfield for a head-on crash involving a 2012 Nissan Altima and a 2015 Toyota Tundra.

The initial investigation indicated that the Nissan Altima driven by Leanna Florez, 24, of Blanco, NM was traveling west on U.S. 64.  For unknown reasons the Altima crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the Toyota Tundra.  Florez, who doesn’t appear to have been wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. 

The 58-year-old male driver and the three passengers in the Tundra were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.  Their conditions are not known.

Alcohol use does appear to have been a factor in this crash. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.

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