Teen dies, 4 injured in accident

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — New Mexico State Police released on Wednesday morning the names of five local residents who were involved in a fatal crash along Interstate 40 early Tuesday morning.

Lt. Jimmy Glascock, a spokesman for the state police, said 16-year-old Christina Foster died from injuries she sustained as the result of being ejected from a 1994 Toyota at about 2:25 a.m. near Mile Marker 66.

Joseph Salazar, 27; Sabrina Padilla, 18 and Angela Romero, also 18, remain hospitalized with serious injuries. All three were also ejected from the vehicle. Salazar was transported by helicopter to an Albuquerque hospital. Alvin Palacios, 24, of Gamerco, was treated and released from a local hospital on Tuesday with minor cuts and bruises.

According to a family friend of one of the victims, at least one occupant may have a broken back and another sustained a broken neck and may be paralyzed. Palacios was the only occupant who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, Glascock said.

"This serious accident greatly shows the importance of wearing a seatbelt," Glascock said.

The group was reportedly en route to a relative's house in Grants. Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was driving eastbound, when Salazar swerved to the roadway's shoulder and overcorrected the maneuver, which caused the vehicle to flip front over end multiple times.

Glascock said NMSP is investigating whether alcohol contributed to the fatal crash. The families of the victims who were hospitalized are with them Albuquerque's University of New Mexico hospital.