Las Cruces, NM : Arizona woman killed in multi-vehicle crash on I-10 near Las Cruces on Saturday, December 20, 2014

State Police have identified the woman killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate-10 near Las Cruces on Saturday evening as Mary Ortega, 43, from Maricopa, Arizona. The left lane of eastbound Interstate 10 remained closed Sunday due to the fatal crash the day before between mile markers 147-148 south of Las Cruces. The middle and right lane on I-10 were open to motorists, but the I-25 interchange at I-10 towards Texas was to remain closed until traffic was able to move through, according to a press release by the New Mexico Department of Transportation issued Sunday afternoon shortly after 3 p.m. There were a total of 15 individuals involved in the multi-vehicle crash, according to a press release issued Sunday by the State Police. Ortega was killed in the crash, State Police said. Two victims were airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso, and two others were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The crash happened as traffic had slowed to enter a congested construction zone when what State Police describe as a "commercial motor vehicle" (tractor-trailer) rear-ended a passenger vehicle. The passenger vehicle then ran into the back of a flatbed truck, as the tractor-trailer started to jackknife. The tractor-trailer then struck another passenger vehicle, causing a chain reaction resulting in three additional vehicles being struck. A total of two commercial vehicles and five passenger vehicles were involved in the crash. The condition of those who were transported to the hospital is not known at this time. The ages are not known, but span from young adult to elderly. Source : AZ woman dies in car crash near Las Cruces