The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is investigating whether the ambulance company that employed a 19-year-old emergency medical technician who was critically injured in Tuesday's collision on Interstate 25 was properly insured and met vehicle-safety standards.

Former employees of Rocky Mountain Emergency Medical Services Inc., which is registered with the PRC as Running Bear Rescue Inc., told The New Mexican on Thursday that the ambulance driven by Vanessa Carrillo in Tuesday's crash may not have been up to minimum safety standards — including not having adequate airbags reinstalled after the same vehicle deployed airbags in a crash two years ago.

The former employees are still working in the rescue community around the state and because of that asked that their names not be used.

The PRC is aware of the complaint, as well as concerns raised about whether the company had adequate insurance coverage for an EMT driver under the age of 21.

"As a regulated carrier, there are very specific regulations that the company must comply with," said PRC public information officer Gerald Garner Jr.

"Those regulations include provisions for financial responsibility (insurance), safety and more."

Garner said he could not discuss specifics of the investigation.

Attempts to call company owner Ed Little on Thursday evening were unsuccessful. His cellular telephone had a message indicating his voice mail was full. When contacted by The New Mexican on Wednesday and asked if Carrillo was properly covered by the company's insurance, Little declined to answer.

Carrillo, airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital after the crash, has multiple broken bones in each leg, a torn muscle in her arm and a broken bone in her face. Police say a Nissan Altima traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour south on northbound I-25 early Tuesday collided with the ambulance Carrillo was driving after she transported a patient to Albuquerque. Carrillo, from La Cienega, was returning the ambulance to the business in Santa Fe at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Altima, 26-year-old Kylene Holmes, died at the scene. A 38-year-old passenger in the Altima, Jennifer Michelle Belvin, remains hospitalized in Santa Fe.

Carrillo's 21-year-old sister, Desiree Carrillo, said the same concerns about vehicle safety and insurance brought to The New Mexican's attention have also been brought to the family's attention.

Desiree Carrillo also said the family is not focused on medical expenses now.

Santa Fe Police Chief Aric Wheeler said he would not be able to comment on whether an airbag deployed in the ambulance until after crash-scene investigators inspect the ambulance, which is in a city impound lot.

Garner said the investigation into Rocky Mountain EMS is standard for any company that is a regulated motor carrier in the state after being involved in a serious accident.

"The investigation, which is still in the early stages, will focus largely on whether everything is proper and that Rocky Mountain EMS was in compliance with aforementioned regulations," Garner said.