Blast injures 2 women collecting scrapmetal near McGregor Range

Two women believed to be collecting scrap metal were injured in an explosion near McGregor Range on Saturday afternoon, an Otero County Sheriff’s Official said.

Deputies are questioning two men who were with the women.

The Otero County Sheriff’s Office told ABC-7 the group was collecting scrap metal when something in the pile blew up.

Otero County Sheriff’s deputies were first on the scene and found more possible explosives after the incident and closed the highway.

Investigators closed U.S. 54 from the Texas-New Mexico state line to Alamogordo. Motorist heading south from Alamogordo are being diverted to U.S. 70 into Las Cruces.

ABC-7 has learned that the FBI has sent its Explosive, Ordnance and Demolition team to investigate.

U.S. 54 has now re-opened.