Cibola County, N.M. - New Mexico State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles that occurred Oct. 8 on Interstate 40 near milepost 111, east of Laguna, N.M.

The initial investigation indicated a 2019 Freightliner Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), driven by Jose Rubalcaba, 28, of Harlingen, Texas, was traveling east on Interstate 40. The Freightliner approached a construction zone in the eastbound lane where traffic had slowed down. The Freightliner struck the rear end of a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup and pushed it forward into the rear end of another 2019 Freightliner CMV.

The passengers of the Dodge were both pronounced dead on scene by the Office of Medical Investigator.

Rubalcaba and another passenger in the 2019 Freightliner, a 21-year-old female from Los Fresno, Texas, were both uninjured in the crash. The driver, a 30-year-old male, along with a passenger, a 21-year-old male, in the other 2019 Freightliner, both from Phoenix, Ariz., were also uninjured in the crash.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash and seatbelts were properly used by all occupants. Rubalcaba was issued a traffic citation for Careless Driving. The names of the other occupants involved have not been released by State Police..