Santa Fe, New Mexico — A still‑fresh sadness hangs over this desert city after a serious crash on Interstate 25 took the life of 31‑year‑old Angelo Romero late Tuesday night. Romero died after a single‑vehicle rollover just south of the St. Francis Drive exit, and the way the evening turned has neighbors and family struggling to make sense of it all.
Officers from the Santa Fe Police Department were called to the scene at about 8 p.m. Tuesday after reports of a crash with a person lying in the roadway. What investigators later pieced together was a rollover wreck involving just one vehicle. Romero was thrown from the car as it flipped, landing in the path of oncoming traffic. He was struck by multiple vehicles and pronounced dead at the scene.
The southbound exit from I‑25 to northbound St. Francis Drive was shut down for several hours as traffic investigators worked through the night. Drivers heading north on St. Francis were asked to detour via the Old Pecos Trail exit while police combed the scene and gathered evidence before reopening the highway early Wednesday morning.
Friends and loved ones describe Romero as someone full of life — someone who shared laughter, stories and quiet moments with the people who mattered most to him. In a community already feeling the bite of winter’s chill, his sudden passing has left a deep, human ache. Roadside flowers and notes now mark the spot near the exit ramp, reminders of a life that ended too soon.
Santa Fe Police have not revealed what caused the rollover, and their investigation continues. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to reach out to Traffic Officer Arthur Maes. Authorities hope someone’s memory of those moments will help explain why and how Romero’s vehicle left the road.
For residents who travel I‑25 often, reactions range from disbelief to concern. “It hits you when it’s someone local,” said one neighbor who asked not to be named. “You see those cars drive by every day. You never think something like this could happen to someone you know.”
Tuesday’s tragedy underscores the fragile balance between everyday travel and sudden loss. In a city where people wave to neighbors at red lights and share stories at local cafes, the news of Romero’s death has rippled through small circles and large ones alike.
Romero’s family, friends and the wider Santa Fe community are left to grieve, share memories, and seek comfort in the face of a moment that changed a life and shook a town. Romero’s passing is a stark reminder of the unpredictable turns life can take, especially on roads that seem familiar but can be perilous in an instant.
