Posted on Sep 13, 2023

Woman pleads guilty to charge in fatal accident in Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES, NM - A woman has been sentenced in connection with a fatal car crash in Las Cruces, KOAT reports.

Iliana Salayandia of Las Cruces was sentenced to 15 years but a judge last week suspended the entire sentence. She will be on parole for two years along with a period of supervised probation for nearly five years.

The crash occurred on North Roadrunner Parkway and Mars Avenue on Dec. 2, 2021.  Authorities said Salayandia was driving a Dodge Nitro at least 25 miles per hour over the speed limit when she crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing the other driver.

She pleaded guilty in July to homicide by vehicle, speeding, and driving on the wrong side of the road.