Two killed in I-40 crash

TUCUMCARI — Two people were killed Thursday night in a head-on collision when a driver of one of the vehicles was traveling in the wrong lane on Interstate 40, police said.

Jolene Baker, 55, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of I-40, when the vehicle driven by Guadalupe Grinols, 21, was struck, State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said.

The accident occurred at 10:30 p.m. and was on I-40 between Airport Road and San Jon near Tucumcari.

Baker and Grinols, both from Rio Rancho, died at the scene, Garcia said. 

“It is unknown at this time why the vehicle was in the wrong lane,” Garcia said.

Tucumcari Fire and Rescue responded to the accident and transported one adult male and a baby to Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, Fire Chief Mike Cherry said.

“It’s my understanding that passersby stopped to assist and that one of the passersby broke a window to get the baby out,” Cherry said.