By Mary Alice Murphy

Thursday morning, Maria Morales-Loebl, El Refugio domestic violence shelter for women and children, was informed by staff that the facility had no hot water.

"We lost hot water for about 15 hours," Morales-Loebl told the Beat.

Upon inspection of the gas meter, they discovered that it had been damaged by an 18-wheeler semi-trailer truck.  

Since the demolition and closure of the New Mexico 90-Hudson Street Bridge, commercial trucks are either missing or ignoring the detour to Truck Bypass Road and continuing northward toward Silver City. Their last option is to turn left onto Daniel Street, a steep uphhill residential street, and then make a sharp right turn onto Robert Street.  

The gas meter was the victim of a truck being unable to navigate this sharp turn.  

Morales-Loebl said New Mexico Gas Company responded immediately to the report of damage to the gas meter and replaced it. Further investigation by the gas company found no damage to underground gas lines.

"We are in a very residential area," Morales-Loebl said. "We are very thankful the damage did not cause a gas explosion."

At the Wednesday evening New Mexico Department of Transportation informational meeting, Kevin Cook of Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. told NM DOT officials that he had heard from employees of the frequency of semis traveling westward on Daniel Street.

NM DOT officials promised to address the issue by putting up more signs and message boards to make sure trucks do not travel into residential areas, but take the detour onto Truck Bypass Road. Brian Torres, NM DOT project manager, said it might take a few days to get the signs in place.