ONLY ON ABC-7: NMSU student killed in crash; friend speaks to ABC-7

A New Mexico State University student was killed in a car crash in Las Cruces, Thursday afternoon.

Police say she was 18-year old Jo Anna Aurora Rincon.

Police say she was a passenger of a white dodge pickup driven by 18-year-old Benjamin Buntain. There were three other people in the truck including 23-year old Ryan Feeback,18-year old Alexis Holden and 20-year-old Nicholas Owings. According to police, the five were riding in a truck near the intersection of University Avenue and Triviz Drive when they hit another truck, driven by Justin Mauldin.

Two people were riding in the bed the truck driven by Buntain and were thrown from the vehicle. Rincon and another female passenger were partially ejected. Rincon died at the scene.

Following the news of her sudden death, a childhood friend, Marco Ramirez spoke to Abc-7. Ramirez tells Abc-7 he was on his way to class when he drove by the scene of the crash. He says he saw the damage and thought to himself, “I hope they’re all okay.” He didn’t think for one second, that the woman killed would turn out to be his childhood friend, Jo Anna.

“I know how hard it must be for her family, because she was just so young,” Ramirez said.

“She would always say you’re one of the best huggers,” Ramirez said.

The two recently graduated from Arrowhead Park Early College High School.

Rincon attended NMSU this semester, majoring in science. She wanted to find a career in the medical field.

Ramirez says his friend had a bubbly personality and a smile that could light up any room.

“She was just always a happy person, she wanted to see other people smile,” Ramirez said.

Just a few hours before the crash, Rincon sent a “snapchat” photo to her closest friends, with a caption that read, “gonna be a good day.”

Police say Rincon was not wearing a seatbelt, and investigators believe the driver of the truck–18-year old Benjamin Buntain, ran a red light before he hit the other truck involved.

Police say they’re not sure if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. They are urging drivers to be cautious on the road.

“Whatever you’re doing, limit the distractions and make sure your passengers are buckled up,” Las Cruces Police Department Spokesman Dan Trujillo said.

Ramirez says it’s painful, but he hopes this is a lesson learned for all drivers out there.

“Be careful on the road, so that things like this don’t happen,” Ramirez said.

The passengers including the driver of the pick up truck, Buntain, are at University Medical Center in El Paso.

No charges have been filed at this point.