New Mexico State Police are investigating a tragic single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two children and left others injured Sunday evening in Vado.

The crash occurred on August 10, 2025, at approximately 6:50 p.m. in the 8100 block of Highway 478. Investigators say a 2007 purple Dodge Charger, driven by 33-year-old Christina Escobedo Arriaga of Mesilla Park, was heading southbound on State Road 478 when it veered off the roadway. The car struck a light pole, a chain-link fence, and a tree before coming to rest in the yard of a residence.

The vehicle was carrying three juvenile passengers — two 15-year-olds and a 12-year-old. One 15-year-old was transported to a local hospital for treatment, while the other two children, ages 15 and 12, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Police say seatbelt use may have played a role in the severity of the crash. The surviving juvenile was properly restrained, but seatbelts were not believed to have been used correctly by the other occupants.

Investigators believe alcohol was a contributing factor. Arriaga was taken to a Las Cruces hospital for treatment before being booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. She faces multiple charges, including:

Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle (DUI)
One count of Great Bodily Harm by Vehicle (DUI)
Two counts of Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death
One count of Child Abuse Resulting in Great Bodily Harm
One count of Driving While Under the Influence

The crash remains under investigation by New Mexico State Police.