Las Cruces Police investigating two crashes, same driver involved

Las Cruces Police– LCPD is investigating aTuesdayafternoon crash that critically injured a 31-year-old woman and was preceded by a hit-and-run involving the suspect vehicle.

Shortly after 3 p.m.Tuesday, March 22, police were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at the corner of Chaparro Street and Utah Avenue. A 31-year-old woman in a Pontiac Bonneville was critically injured in the crash and transported to University Medical Center of El Paso. A passenger in her vehicle, a girl between the ages of 6 and 8, was shaken up but not seriously injured.

The 17-year-old driver of a Nissan Altima was transported to a local hospital with relatively minor injuries.

Traffic investigators learned that the Nissan Altima was involved in a hit-and-run crash on Dr. King Way prior to the accident on Utah. A witness to the hit-and-run apparently followed the Nissan Altima west on Idaho and then north on Chaparro where the Altima ran a stop sign and struck the Bonneville that was headed east on Utah.

A small fire developed in the engine compartment of the Nissan but witnesses quickly extinguished it.

The hit-and-run and the crash on Utah are both still under investigation. No charges have been filed at this time.