Heavy Rain — Sandoval, New Mexico

2016-08-18 · near Santa Ana Pueblo, Sandoval, New Mexico

Event narrative

Water over roadway from heavy rainfall resulted in a hydroplaning accident along U.S. Highway 550 near the National Guard Armory north of Rio Rancho. Accident resulted in drivers of both vehicles being killed.

Wider weather episode

A slow-moving thunderstorm that produced localized heavy rainfall along U.S. Highway 550 resulted in a double fatal accident. Officials said a Ford pickup traveling northbound from Rio Rancho crossed into the path of a Toyota truck that was traveling southbound from Aztec and caused a head-on collision. Both vehicles caught fire and burned as a result. Law enforcement determined the cause of the accident was a result of hydroplaning in an area where water was ponding across the roadway.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3740, -106.6374)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 645493. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.