Terror on I-40
One dead, one injured in bizarre road-rage incident

Rescue workers attempt to reach the driver of a semi truck Thursday night that was run off the road, along with several other cars on Interstate 40 near Prewitt by a truck driver who police suspect was high on meth. A Lifeguard helicopter was called in to transport the wounded. One man died and another was seriously injured. (Photo by Jerry Wilson/Independent)

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

PREWITT — At least one person was killed and one seriously injured Thursday night on Interstate 40 in a horrific string of accidents near here.

Witnesses reported that between 8 and 8:30 p.m. a 1999 Freightliner semi-tractor trailer driven by James W. Christian Jr., 38, of Alexandria, Tenn., was driving recklessly in the parking lot of the Pilot truck stop east of Gallup. Christian then headed east on I-40 at a high rate of speed, according to a release from the New Mexico State Police.

While heading east, Christian is believed to have struck or sideswiped at least five vehicles and forced several others off the interstate, said New Mexico State Police Lt. Jimmy Glascock.

One witness reported seeing Christian's truck approach the victims' semi from behind at a high rate of speed and slam into its trailer. The collision forced the victims' truck through a guardrail and up an embankment on the south side of the interstate. The victims' semi came to rest on its left side and Christian's truck came to rest on the driver's side with it trailer upright in a "jackknife" position.

The victims were trapped inside their semi of about an hour while rescue crews worked to extricate them. The 40-year-old male driver of the victimized semi was critically injured and airlifted to Cibola General Hospital. His 40-year-old male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, near Mile Marker 65.

An ambulance took Christian to Cibola General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Glascock said police believe drug use most likely methamphetamines may have been a contributing factor.

The stretch of interstate where the accidents happened is a relatively flat piece of road. Glascock said police got the first word of the accidents at 8:43 p.m. when a motorist reported that a truck ran a passenger car off the interstate.

East bound lanes of the interstate were shut down for investigations and so rescue workers could remove the dead and injured without having to worry about oncoming traffic. Traffic was diverted to New Mexico 122 at Mile Marker 63, also known as the Prewitt Exit. The traffic was allowed back on the interstate at Mile Marker 79 in Milan.

Names of the victims were withheld pending notification of family members.

Police have been in contact with the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office and charges are pending.