The Latest: Police say 5 Texans died in fiery NM crash

JAL, New Mexico (AP) — The Latest on a fatal crash in southeastern New Mexico (all times local):

10 a.m.

Authorities say all five people killed in a fiery crash in southeastern New Mexico’s oil country were from Texas.

New Mexico State Police say the crash happened Thursday morning on a state road east of Jal when the driver of a pickup truck crossed the center line into eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig.

Officer Ray Wilson said Friday it’s unclear what caused the driver, identified as 22-year-old Arturo Barboza of Odessa, to cross the center line.

Barboza’s passengers 28-year-old Alonso Hernandez and 58-year-old Enrique Leon, both of Odessa, and 25-year-old Justin Brown of Montgomery were also killed.

Police identified the semi driver as 27-year-old Rayshawda Riley of Arlington.

Both vehicles caught fire after the collision.

Local leaders and some state lawmakers have voiced concerns about safety as traffic has increased on rural roads throughout the region because of the oil boom in the Permian Basin.

___

8:25 a.m.

Authorities say five people are dead following a collision in southeastern New Mexico.

The New Mexico State Police said four people in a pickup truck and one in a tractor-trailer rig were killed Thursday in the wreck on State Route 128 east of Jal, which is about 195 miles (315 kilometers) east of El Paso, Texas.

Officer Ray Wilson said investigators were trying to identify the victims.

No information was immediately available on the circumstances of the wreck.