The 22-year-old driver of this 18-wheeler died after the truck left the roadway on N.M. 4 Monday and rolled over several times. Courtesy photo

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department reports that the driver and only occupant of the 18-wheeler involved in Monday’s fatal crash on N.M. 4 is Garrick Frank, 22, of Fort Wingate, N.M.

Frank was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. It has been determined during the course of the investigation that his 18-wheeler was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

LAPD Commander Preston Ballew explained in a news release this morning that at about 9 a.m. Monday, witnesses called the Los Alamos Police Department Dispatch to report a semi-truck had crashed through a guardrail on N.M. 4 at about mile marker 47 near the Sandoval County line and rolled several times.

Emergency personnel from the Los Alamos Police Department and Los Alamos Fire Department responded to that location, Ballew said, adding that it appears the tractor pulling the semi-trailer (bottom dump) was heading eastbound on N.M. 4 and crashed through the guardrail and rolled down the steep embankment. 

“It is unknown at this time what company Frank was working for and what location he was leaving or driving to. This crash is being jointly investigated by the Los Alamos Police Department and New Mexico Motor Transportation police,” Ballew said. “As of about 10:30 a.m. today, crews are back on scene to recover the damaged truck and trailer and N.M. 4 will be closed for the next four hours or so. Even after the road is re-opened, we encourage drivers to use caution in this area due to the damaged guardrail.”