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.
The governor’s visit was carefully scheduled to give first responders, law enforcement and emergency vehicles ample time to complete rescues and other emergency work during the flooding. Now that the floodwaters are receding and initial damage assessments are underway, the Governor will survey the disaster zone and work to get families the help they need.
Bloomfield Residents and businesses: please minimize water use until further notice. Postpone laundry and dishwasher use, keep showers brief, and reduce toilet flushing when practical and sanitary. Every reduction helps limit wastewater entering the river.
The district has worked with the Lower Valley Water Users Association on the testing needed to lift the boil water notice. Because of the number of tests required, the district has decided to keep students on remote learning as a precaution for their well-being. If test results come back early, the district must still follow processes and protocols to flush and clear the water lines at each school before in-person instruction can resume. Safety is our top priority for the well-being of our Kirtland students.
Water Samples taken from the Lower Valley Water Association system have tested negative for e-coli. The Boil Water notice has been lifted for customers.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Lauren Patterson’s husband, Jess Patterson, had previously resided in California and had been arrested at least 6 times for domestic violence in that state and had been arrested in July 2026 in New Mexico for battering Ms. Patterson. An autopsy revealed Ms. Patterson suffered multiple broken bones, bruising, and internal injuries.