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Unrestrained 5-month-old killed in McKinley County crash

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MCKINLEY COUNTY – New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on New Mexico State Road 371, around milepost 8, north of Thoreau March 6, shortly after 8 am.

According to the initial investigation, a 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by a 28-year-old Albuquerque mother, was traveling south on SR 371. The Mitsubishi drove across the center line into opposing northbound traffic where it clipped a 2013 Nissan Altima’s mirror and then collided almost head-on with a 2005 Toyota 4runner.

The Mitsubishi then spun into an unoccupied McKinley County Sheriff’s patrol unit that was parked on the right shoulder of the southbound lane. The deputy was investigating a previous crash, at the time.

The mother who was driving the Mitsubishi, had an unrestrained 5-month-old baby in the vehicle.

Osiris Castillo suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Baby Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The mother was airlifted with serious injuries.

The driver of the Toyota 4Runner, a 54-year-old Albuquerque man, was transported by ground ambulance with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. The driver of the Nissan was uninjured. No officers or deputies were hurt.

Speed and driver inattention are believed to have led to the crash. Alcohol does not appear to be involved, and seat belts were worn by everyone except the baby, who was not properly restrained.

This case is still under investigation with the assistance of the New Mexico State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit. Based on the outcome of the investigation, felony charges may be pending for the driver in the Mitsubishi. No additional information is available at this time.