U.S. 285 south of Artesia was closed for nearly five hours Friday morning, said Capt. Amy Dugas of the Eddy County Sheriff’s office.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) closed the northbound and southbound lanes near Atoka. Dugas said there was a crash that occurred around 5 a.m. and both lanes were closed due to an investigation and reconstruction.

She said the road reopened around 10 a.m. Friday. Officials were asking drivers to use Blevins Road as an alternate route to 13th Street.

Dugas said the cause of the crash remained under investigation as of late Friday morning.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.