Pickup truck driver killed in rollover crash that shut down I-25 in Las Cruces area

UPDATE, Jan. 13: New Mexico State Police on Wednesday identified a motorist killed in a rollover crash that shut down Interstate 25 near milepost 7 in the Las Cruces area a day prior.

The victim was 23-year-old Alfred J. Perez of Peoria, Arizona.

Investigators said his pickup truck was headed northbound on the highway when it ran off the road and rolled over, ejecting Perez and killing him.

Police aren't yet sure what caused Perez to lose control of his pickup, but officers indicated he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

ORIGINAL REPORT, Jan. 12: LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A deadly crash along Interstate 25 near Las Cruces shut down a portion of the highway late Tuesday afternoon, snarling traffic into the evening.

New Mexico State Police told ABC-7 it was a single-car crash resulting in a fatality that occurred about 3:30 p.m.

That crash happened on the southbound interstate at mile-marker 7, forcing a closure of the highway in both directions as traffic was diverted off at the Dona Ana exit.

I-25 finally reopened to traffic around 7 p.m., transportation officials said.

Current Borderland traffic conditions are always available at kvia.com/traffic.