The Latest: Police say 5 Texans died in fiery NM crash

JAL, N.M. – The Latest on a fatal crash in southeastern New Mexico (all times local):

10 a.m.

Authorities say all five people killed in a fiery crash in southeastern New Mexico’s oil country were from Texas.

New Mexico State Police say the crash happened Thursday morning on a state road east of Jal when the driver of a pickup truck crossed the centre line into eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig.

Officer Ray Wilson said Friday it’s unclear what caused the driver, identified as 22-year-old Arturo Barboza of Odesa, to cross the centre line.

Barboza’s passengers 19-year-old Alonso Hernandez and 58-year-old Enrique Leon, both of Odesa, and 25-year-old Justin Brown of Montgomery were also killed.

Police identified the semi driver as 27-year-old Rayshawnda Riley of Arlington.

Both vehicles caught fire after the collision.

Local leaders and some state lawmakers have voiced concerns about safety as traffic has increased on rural roads throughout the region because of the oil boom in the Permian Basin.

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This item has been corrected based on new information from police to show that Alonso Hernandez is 19, not 28, and that Riley’s first name is spelled Rayshawnda, not Rayshawda.

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8:25 a.m.

Authorities say five people are dead following a collision in southeastern New Mexico.

The New Mexico State Police said four people in a pickup truck and one in a tractor-trailer rig were killed Thursday in the wreck on State Route 128 east of Jal, which is about 195 miles (315 kilometres) east of El Paso, Texas.

Officer Ray Wilson said investigators were trying to identify the victims.

No information was immediately available on the circumstances of the wreck.