2 dead after semi-truck rollover crash closing I-10 near Lordsburg

LORDSBURG, New Mexico – Two people were killed as a result of a semi-truck rollover crash that led to the complete shutdown of Interstate 10 eastbound near Lordsburg on Wednesday afternoon.

The Hidalgo County Herald newspaper reported Wednesday evening that there were two confirmed fatalities in the highway wreck.

The closure at milepost 3 was announced around 3:30 p.m. by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, which said it anticipated it would be six to eight hours before the highway could reopen.

They advised those traveling from Arizona to New Mexico to seek hotel accommodations to avoid being stranded.

At New Mexico's request, Arizona authorities were forcing all traffic to exit onto State Route 191, just east of Benson. Traffic was being directed north towards Safford and onto U.S. 70 to cross into New Mexico. Officials said no trucks carrying oversized loads would be allowed along the detour route.

Further details about the crash, including what caused it, weren't immediately available.