Staff Reports
The two victims that died in a vehicle rollover accident May 1 have been identified. The driver, 21-year-old Elijah King of Gamerco, was subsequently arrested for DWI and two counts of vehicular homicide, among other charges.
According to a statement released by New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Carl Christiansen, passengers Janice Miller, 20, and Jennifer Johnson, 43, both of Iyanbito, were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining occupants were taken to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
The the Ford truck, driven King, had overturned multiple times, ejecting all five occupants near mile post 27 on State Highway 118. State Police arrived at the scene at 12:15 pm. New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit was called to the scene to process all evidence associated with the crash investigation, Christiansen stated.
In addition to facing DWI-related double homicide charges, King was charged with three counts of abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm, and additional traffic violations.
