A Las Cruces man was critically injured after his vehicle drove into and became lodged underneath a semitrailer early Thursday morning.
The crash occurred about 1:50 a.m. Thursday, April 8, on Main Street near Interstate 25.
Las Cruces police and firefighters were dispatched to the report of a vehicle underneath a semitractor-trailer in the westbound lanes of traffic near where the southbound I-25 off-ramp meets Main Street. Witnesses reported the driver of a Nissan Altima stuck inside the Altima and the vehicle pinned underneath the semitrailer.
Firefighters extracted the 21-year-old driver who was the sole occupant of the Altima. He was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso. His injuries are critical but considered to be non-life-threatening.
Traffic investigators determined the commercial motor vehicle, a Freightliner semitractor-trailer, was heading east on Main Street and in the process of making a U-turn into the westbound lanes of traffic. At that time, the Nissan Altima was heading west on Main Street. The Altima collided with the commercial motor vehicle in the westbound lanes of traffic and became lodged between the Mansfield Bar and the rear wheels of the semitrailer.
The 38-year-old driver of the Freightliner was not injured.
The crash forced the closure of westbound traffic on Main Street for several hours. The vehicles were dislodged and removed from the roadway shortly before 8 a.m.
The investigation is still ongoing. Charges against the driver of the Altima are possible.