By Roger Lanse

On Tuesday, May 5, at approximately 5:20 p.m., New Mexico State Police officers responded to a fatal crash on U.S. Highway 180 about nine miles north of Deming.

According to a news release, a Chevrolet Trail Blazer driven by Crista Waldrop, 19, of Deming was southbound, when her vehicle crossed into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a Jeep SUV driven by William May, 72, also of Deming.

May was airlifted from the scene, the release said, but sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at University Medical Center in El Paso. The passengers in May's vehicle, Luke Merrill, 19, and Ivan Granados, 18, both of Deming, were transported to Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming and later airlifted to UMC-El Paso, where they are reportedly in critical condition.

Waldrop and her passenger, Jessie Granados, 18, of Deming, were also transported to MMH-Deming and later airlifted to UMC-El Paso and are listed in stable condition, according to the release. NMSP Sgt. Chad Pierce stated it is not known at this time whether Ivan Granados and Jessie Granados are related.

No other information is available at this time and the crash is still being investigated, the release stated.