Valencia County, NM — May 31, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident on southbound Interstate 25 near Belen.

Authorities said a Dodge passenger vehicle was apparently going north in the southbound lanes when it collided with a semi-truck near mile marker 191.

The woman who had been driving the Dodge was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver suffered minor injuries in the crash, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Valencia County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

When someone hears about a wrong-way crash involving a passenger car and a semi-truck, a lot of understandable questions come to mind: How could someone end up driving the wrong direction on the interstate? Was the truck in the correct lane? Did anyone have time to react? These aren’t just idle curiosities; they go straight to the heart of understanding what happened and whether this was just a freak occurrence or something that could have been prevented.

In this particular crash on southbound I-25 near Belen, the initial report says a passenger vehicle was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes when it collided with a semi-truck. That certainly sounds like the passenger car was in the wrong, but the full picture is rarely that simple, especially when reports are this limited.

One of the first unanswered questions is how the Dodge driver ended up going the wrong way. Was this a case of driver confusion, impairment or perhaps a poorly marked on-ramp? Authorities haven’t said. Depending on the answers, responsibility could rest entirely with the passenger vehicle driver, or the facts could point in a very different direction.

Even if the car was going the wrong way, we also have to ask: did the truck driver have any opportunity to avoid the collision? Was the truck moving or stopped? Did the truck’s dash camera, if equipped, record the moment of impact? What about ECM (engine control module) data that shows how fast the truck was going, when the brakes were applied or whether the driver tried to swerve?

It’s not clear yet whether the trucking company has released any data or statements, but in a case like this, a proper investigation should review driver logs, GPS records and the trucker’s recent driving history. I’ve handled cases where a truck driver technically had the right of way, but due to fatigue or inattention, failed to avoid a dangerous situation that a reasonably alert driver might have escaped. That’s not to say that’s what happened here, but the possibility can’t be ruled out without evidence.

And as always, it’s worth asking about the trucking company’s hiring and training procedures. Did they properly screen this driver? Were there red flags in their past driving record? In my experience, too many companies put drivers on the road without fully vetting their ability to handle high-stakes situations. I've handled cases where a driver’s poor reaction was only part of the problem; what really sealed the case was the company’s failure to put a competent professional behind the wheel in the first place.

Until more information is released, we’re left with a lot of open questions. But those questions aren’t speculative; they’re the foundation for any serious investigation into what happened and who, if anyone, failed to meet their responsibilities.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear how the Dodge vehicle ended up going the wrong way on I-25.
• Evidence from the truck’s ECM, dash cams and driver logs could help clarify what happened.
• The trucker’s ability to react, or not, may be a relevant factor, depending on timing and visibility.
• A proper investigation should examine both driver actions and company policies.
• Determining responsibility requires answers from data, not assumptions.