Senate candidate survives fiery car accident

Allen McCulloch, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, survived a head-on crash Sunday night, then helped pull four passengers from the car he hit, which was on fire, according to the Albuquerque Tribune.

McCulloch was unharmed and back on the campaign trail today.

McCulloch campaign spokesman Mario Sanchez told the newspaper the candidate was driving home to Farmington about 6:30 p.m. when he hit a patch of water and collided with a vehicle carrying six people.

After the accident, the vehicle McCulloch hit caught fire, and one of the women McCulloch pulled from it was also on fire, the Tribune reported. McCulloch is a doctor.

I’ve been unable to reach McCulloch’s campaign and the Sandoval County sheriff all day about this, and don’t know anything about the condition of those in the other vehicle.

McCulloch is trying to unseat Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., but polls have him way behind in the race.

Update, 5:15 p.m.

Tim Lucero with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department said the accident occurred during a severe hail storm at mile marker 80 on U.S. 550. He said the other vehicle, carrying six females, was stopped on the side of the road because of the storm when McCulloch hit it from behind, causing the other vehicle to roll off the road and catch fire.

Three women suffered burns, one severe. That woman is being treated at UNM Hospital, Lucero said. There were no other serious injuries.

Lucero said the cause of the crash is still under investigation. He said he doesn’t anticipate any charges being filed at this time, but after investigators reconstruct the crash, that might change.

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