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 206 numbered roads in New Mexico. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 6 deaths on the road.
A 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 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 on 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
71 fatal crashes on US 70 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is June.
| 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 crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 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 crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 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 crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 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
The largest difference from New Mexico: from 2015 to 2024, 69% of fatal crashes on US 70 in New Mexico were on rural roads, against 55% across New Mexico. Below the New Mexico share: drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Mexico. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 71 crashes.
| US 70 | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 69% | 55% | above the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 22% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 33% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 26% | below the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 32% | 36% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 41% | 39% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 54% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.2% | 8.7% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 21% | about the same as 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 on 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. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- 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. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.