Pregnant Woman Gave Birth Soon After Deadly New Mexico Bus Crash

THOREAU, NM — A pregnant woman injured in a New Mexico bus crash that left eight people dead gave birth soon after the crash and her newborn twins are said to be in critical condition, according to reports. The woman was among the 26 passengers injured in the bus crash on I-40 in rural New Mexico Thursday.

According to New Mexico State Police, a semi-truck going eastbound suffered a tire failure and crossed over into the opposing lane of traffic, crashing head-on with a Greyhound bus. The truck was traveling from Marina, California to Memphis, according to police. The driver of the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries and has not been identified as he is currently not facing any charges.

Police have identified one of the victims in the crash, the driver of the Greyhound bus. According to police, Luis Alvarez, 49, of Santa Teresa, New Mexico was one of eight people killed in the bus crash. The Greyhound bus was traveling from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

There were a total of 49 people on the bus, including the driver. At least 26 passengers were among the injured, one of whom died later at the hospital. The bodies of the eight passengers killed in the crash have been taken to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner, according to officials.

According to CNN, the pregnant woman injured in the crash gave birth at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services clinic in Gallup, New Mexico. The two newborns were then taken to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, according to CNN.

A hospital official told CNN that the two children were in critical condition.

The front of the bus was mangled, the cab of the semi was flipped and the trailer was on its side as debris was scattered across the highway. Passing motorists stopped to help passengers climb out of the wreckage before authorities arrived.

New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas called them heroes, saying some pulled ladders from trucks to reach the bus windows.

"For them to stop and get involved is amazing. I commend them," the chief said. "To get ladders, to get into the bus to get people. Can you imagine?"

Investigators with National Transportation Safety Board have secured the vehicles for inspection and examined the crash scene Friday. They also will be looking at factors such as driver fatigue, training, safety records and the condition of the roadway.

The driver of the truck and the trucking company, Fresno-based JAG Transportation, were accused of negligence in a pair of lawsuits filed Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo via New Mexico State Police