Deadly Wrong Way Crash on I 40 Near Gallup Disrupts Travel
A suspected drunk driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 40 collided head on with a semi at mile marker 38.5 east of Gallup on the evening of November 15, 2025, triggering additional collisions and debris in the roadway. The crash closed lanes in both directions while McKinley County and state investigators worked the scene, creating travel delays and raising safety concerns for local residents and freight traffic.
Emergency crews from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police responded after a wrong way driver struck a semi on Interstate 40 near Gallup on the evening of November 15, 2025. The initial head on collision occurred at mile marker 38.5 east of Gallup and forced the struck semi into another commercial truck. Debris from the collisions led to at least one additional vehicle crashing in the area. Authorities described the incident as deadly and closed at least one lane in each direction while investigators and emergency personnel worked the scene.
Investigators from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police continue to examine the crash. As of the latest updates, officials have not released additional details about victims or any charges related to the suspected impaired driving. Local residents and motorists were advised to expect delays as cleanup and evidence collection proceeded on the Interstate 40 corridor.
The location of the crash made the incident particularly disruptive. Interstate 40 is a primary east west artery for passenger travel and commercial freight across northern New Mexico. A collision involving multiple semis can ripple through local logistics and supply chains that depend on timely highway access. Motorists traveling to and from Gallup experienced slowdowns and detours during the evening response and into the following day as crews cleared wreckage.
For McKinley County the event underscores recurring concerns about impaired driving on high speed roadways that pass near populated and tribal communities. Gallup serves as a regional hub and gateway to nearby tribal lands, and heavy traffic flows through the area at all hours. The involvement of large commercial vehicles raises the stakes for emergency response and road safety, given the potential for extensive roadway damage and prolonged closures.
Investigators will continue to piece together the sequence of events, including the actions of the suspected wrong way driver and how the chain of collisions unfolded. The county and state agencies leading the probe will release further information when it is available. In the meantime local drivers are likely to see heightened enforcement and reminders about safe driving practices. The community response to the crash reflects both the immediate human toll and the broader need to address highway safety on a corridor that connects McKinley County to the wider region.
