Tour bus crashes near Corona, NM

TORRANCE COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) - The Torrance County Sheriff's Office is investigating a horrific tour bus crash which left two people dead and dozens more injured.

The packed bus from El Paso was headed to Colorado, when it rolled over and crashed near Corona, N.M.

Deputies said that they have not seen a crash of this magnitude in a long time. A total of 46 were hurt.

The rollover happened at 11:00 p.m. Friday. The bus crashed about 50 miles away from Moriarty on U.S. Highway 54 North.

Deputies said that the bus was traveling north, when the driver lost control in a construction zone, hit the median and flipped the bus.

Two passengers, both adults, died at the scene. A 9-year-old was airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital.

15 others were transported to Albuquerque by ambulance with injures ranging from minor to critical.

Some passengers have already been treated and released from various hospitals across Albuquerque.

Deputies said that they think weather played a factor.

Officers did question the bus driver and are now trying to figure out exactly how many people were onboard.

"We have reports that one individual, after the crash, got out and flagged down a vehicle and hopped a ride, even before law enforcement got on the scene," Torrance County Sheriff Clarence Gibson said. "So we are still going through that to make sure everyone is accounted for."

The bus is owned by Los Paisanos out of El Paso.

The names of the deceased will be released after the victim's families are notified.