APD: BCSO vehicle involved in one of two fatal crashes overnight

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Police are investigating two fatal crashes that occurred overnight, including one involving a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

Just after midnight Wednesday, Albuquerque police responded to a fatal crash at the corner of Alameda and Edith. They learned the crash involved a silver Honda Accord and a Ford Explorer marked BCSO.

An APD investigation revealed that the officer followed the Honda, believing it to be a suspicious vehicle, until he lost sight of it. Then a radio transmission indicated that the vehicle’s brakes locked up on the officer, causing the officer to strike the vehicle and send it flying into a wall.

According to APD, the Honda’s side and front airbags deployed, as did the front airbags of the support vehicle. The driver of the Honda was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt. Paramedics pronounced the driver dead at the scene.

The officer had no visible injuries and did not have to go to the hospital.

However, BCSO John Allen issued a statement saying the deputy did not mention a brake check or a suspicious vehicle. They said they reviewed the radio transmissions and it was clear the report was added inadvertently.

According to BCSO, the driver fled after the deputy attempted to pull over the Honda for erratic driving and high speed. However, the deputy later saw that the same Honda was still driving erratically and attempted to pull over the driver a second time. The accident occurred shortly afterward.

“The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office places the utmost importance on the accuracy and integrity of information provided to the public. We strive to quickly correct any discrepancies to ensure public communications are factual and transparent,” Allen said in a statement.

The investigation is still ongoing. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected in this incident.

CONSTITUTION AND WYOMING

At approximately 3:30 a.m., the APD Fatal Crash Team responded to the intersection of Constitution and Wyoming. According to police, a pickup truck was traveling westbound on Constitution when a person fled Kaseman Hospital after allegedly beating security guards there.

At some point, the pickup truck ran over the person. The security guards told police they did not see the impact, but heard it.

Paramedics confirmed the pedestrian’s death at the scene of the accident. The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene of the accident and spoke with officers.

The crash is still under investigation.