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By Staci Matlock
[email protected]
Taos lamented the loss of a high school teenager and a Texas mountain singer, who died in a collision involving three vehicles north of the city on Wednesday night (4 September).
Maria Cruz, a 16-year-old Taos high school student from San Cristóbal, was the daughter of Pedro Cruz, deputy chief of the Volunteer Fire Department of San Cristóbal, who had reacted to the problem. accident. The singer-songwriter was Kylie Rae Harris, 30, from Wylie, Texas, who was about to perform at Big Barn Dance, a four-day music festival in Taos. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
Investigators from the Taos County Sheriff's Office said the speed Thursday night seemed to have contributed to the accident. The sheriff's office also said that alcohol was also suspected to be a contributing factor, but investigators are waiting for a toxicology report from the investigator's office.
The sheriff's office determined that Harris drove south on National Highway 522 to Taos in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox black. She cut the rear of a black Chevrolet Avalanche by sending Harris's vehicle into the lane. northward, which made it hit the 2008 white Jeep driven by the teenager. Both died on the scene. The third driver was not injured.
Students and teachers at Taos High School were shocked Thursday morning after the announcement of the loss of one of theirs, many of whom were visibly shaken. Maria Cruz had grown up with them, attending public schools in Taos.
A dinner originally planned to raise funds for the San Cristobal Community Center will now be a fundraiser to help the Cruz family cover funeral expenses. Dinner is from 17:30 – 19:00 Friday (6 September) at the community center of San Cristóbal in the village near the fire department. Enchilada dinner plate (green, red or vegetarian) complete $ 10 adults, $ 5 children.
Taos County Fire Chief Mike Cordova said donations to help the family could also be deposited at the Taos County Fire and Medical Services Office at 1397 Weimer Road in Taos.
Harris had released his third album in the spring which had been well received by his fans in Texas and elsewhere. She appeared in the television series Troubadour, TX, in 2013, a series of documentaries about the lives of singers and songwriters.
Sarah Hearne Naftis, who participates in organizing the Big Barn Dance with her father Michael Hearne, said that they were "absolutely devastated". She said Harris had been coming to the festival intermittently for years, often invited by other musicians to go on stage and join them while they were playing. "It was the first year she was playing her own game. She was an important part of the Big Barn Dance family," said Hearne Naftis.
Harris leaves behind a 6 year old girl.
On Wednesday, in an article on Twitter, Harris wrote: "The fuel distance is 46 km and I come from the nearest petrol station, 36 km away.Baby baby Jesus, do not let me fail at SL. "
She also posted a touching video on Instagram while she was driving, talking about all the years she had come to New Mexico with her family and how most of them had gone.
The accident blocked both lanes of 522 National Highway for a few hours, as investigators gathered evidence. The coroner's office was also called to the scene.
First responders from the Taos County Fire and Watch Services, Hondo-Seco Fire Services and Taos were involved in the investigation, which lasted for hours.
The Taos County Sheriff's Office analyzes the accident data recorders for both vehicles. "These CDRs will provide relevant information that will confirm the findings of the investigation," according to a press release released Thursday night.
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