ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque Police Officers were able to respond in an instant to the scene of a suspected drunk driving crash because they were already there for a different crash. It was a messy scene on I-25 when a crash scene became the scene of a second crash in May.
APD was on the scene near the Lead-Coal exit with police vehicles parked to block traffic. One driver in a Chevy Trailblazer plowed right through. That vehicle hit a pickup with two Police Service Aides inside and launched their car into a second police car. One of the PSAs managed to get out but a second, who suffered a head injury, was trapped inside with his door jammed shut. Officers were eventually able to help him climb over the seat to safety.
The driver of the smashed Trailblazer was having difficulties of his own. Police said 23-year-old Nathaniel Lucero, smelled of alcohol. His door was also jammed shut and it took some doing to get him out of the car and into custody.
Officer: “Albuquerque Police, get out of the car.”
Lucero: “I’m trying.”
Because of an injury to his arm, officers did not put Lucero through field sobriety tests but did tell officers he had been drinking.
Officer: “How much have you had to drink tonight?”
Lucero: “I drank two Modelos and two shots.”
The two service aides were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Lucero was charged with great bodily harm by vehicle and DWI.