navajo nation road new mexico
Flickr: Alan Levine

Drag Racing Causes Navajo Nation Road Closure


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FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) -- Officials have closed a section of road on the Navajo Nation through the end of February because of concerns about persistent drag racing.

The Farmington Daily Times reported Monday that the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Transportation closed 2.5 miles (4.02 kilometers) of Navajo Route 4178 with concrete barriers and signs near the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry farm and food product company.

NAPI CEO Dave Zeller said drag racing has been an issue in the area for several years.

"We are very concerned about the safety of our employees and everyone else who travel the roads through NAPI," he said.

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Genevia Cundiff, the security manager at NAPI, said no accidents or fatalities have been caused by drag racing but "it's a risk we do not want to take."

"NAPI employees traveling from field to field utilize these roadways and collisions could occur. In some instances, the employees have received threats by racers when interfered with their races," Cundiff said.

Christina Tsosie, a spokeswoman for the Navajo Police Department, says department resources and officers have been stationed in the area to beef up police presence, but officials need to come up with a long-term plan to address the issue.

Navajo Police ask anyone with information about the drag racing to contact the department.

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