US 70 in New Mexico: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 71 fatal crashes on US 70 in New Mexico killed 75 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in New Mexico. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 6 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 7 counties of New Mexico. All fatal crashes in New Mexico.
Deaths on US 70 in New Mexico by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 9 | 11 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 12 | 12 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 70 in New Mexico: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Chaves County County had the most fatal crashes on US 70 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 20 deaths. Chaves, Roosevelt and Doña Ana counties together held 65% of fatal crashes in US 70 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 94%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaves County | 1 | 17 | 20 |
| 2 | Roosevelt County | 1 | 15 | 16 |
| 3 | Doña Ana County | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| 4 | Otero County | 3 | 14 | 14 |
| 5 | Lincoln County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 70 in New Mexico
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.8%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar9.9%
- Apr8.5%
- May5.6%
- Jun12.7%
- Jul4.2%
- Aug8.5%
- Sep11.3%
- Oct12.7%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 70 in New Mexico first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 31%; a rollover in 27%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 20%, a pedestrian in 14%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 22 | 31% |
| Rollover | 19 | 27% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 20% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 14% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 5.6% |
| Other | 2 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 70 in New Mexico compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 16% of fatal crashes in US 70 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024, below the New Mexico share of 26%; speeding in 32%, below the New Mexico share of 36%; a hit-and-run in 4.2%, below the New Mexico share of 8.7%; a driver recorded as distracted in 41%, above the New Mexico share of 39%; 54% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the New Mexico share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Mexico. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 70 | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 69% | 55% | above the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 22% | below the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 33% | below the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 26% | below the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 32% | 36% | below the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 41% | 39% | above the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 54% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.2% | 8.7% | below the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | below the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 21% | below the New Mexico share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in US 70 in New Mexico
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 70 in New Mexico?
- 71 fatal crashes killed 75 people on US 70 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 6 deaths.
- Where on US 70 in New Mexico do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Chaves County had the most fatal crashes on US 70 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 20 deaths. Roosevelt County was second with 15.
Other roads in New Mexico with a page
All fatal crashes in New Mexico, with every road ranked.
Where the US 70 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 70 in New Mexico (filed under 2 spellings, such as "US-70", "US-70/285"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.