
New Mexico State Police Captain Robert Gomez told KOTS/KDEM news that the semi driver, 27-year-old Jose Torres-Pacheco of Tijuana, Mexico, said he felt his truck, that was hauling steel rolls of metal, start pulling to the right and he was not able to hold the vehicle on the road. The semi hit the guardrail, sliding the truck upon the top of the guard rail and impacting the cement pillar that holds up the bridge.
The accident caused significant damage to the bride, and as a result I-10 East and West was closed.
The semi caught fire and completely burned before Cooks Peak Fire Volunteer Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames.
New Mexico Department of Transportation determined that the bridge was unsafe, and worked through the night to temporarily brace the pillar holding up the bridge.
The interstate was opened to regular traffic Thursday morning around 7 a.m.