ALBUQUERQUE, NM — An 18-year-old driver was arrested after a two-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 40 that killed an 11-year-old child and sent six other people to a hospital, according to New Mexico State Police.
The collision happened Friday night in the eastbound lanes near Unser Boulevard. Investigators said the driver was speeding, tried to move back into the left lane after passing a semitruck, and struck an SUV carrying six people. Both vehicles rolled over.
State police said officers later found multiple open containers of alcohol in the Dodge and observed signs of impairment during sobriety testing.
Crash happened Friday night in eastbound lanes near milepost 154
State police said troopers were called to the scene around 9:54 p.m. Friday near milepost 154. The crash closed in on traffic in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 west of central Albuquerque, near the Unser Boulevard area.
The driver was identified as Malachi Velasquez-McCormick, 18, who was driving a gray Dodge passenger car. Police said the vehicle had three other occupants. The Chevrolet SUV involved in the crash had six people inside.
After the impact, both vehicles overturned. The force of the collision was enough to send several people to an area hospital, though officials said the full extent of those injuries has not been released.
Police say speed and lane change led to the collision
According to investigators, the Dodge was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed when Velasquez-McCormick moved to the right lane to pass a semitruck. Police said that as he tried to return to the left lane, the Dodge hit the rear passenger side of the Chevrolet SUV.
The impact caused the rollover crash and left both vehicles heavily damaged. State police have not said whether anyone in either vehicle was wearing a seat belt.
The sequence described by investigators places speed and a late lane change at the center of the collision. That reconstruction is part of the case police used in the arrest that followed the hospital stay.
11-year-old child died from injuries after being taken to hospital
Everyone involved in the crash was taken to a hospital, including Velasquez-McCormick, his three passengers and three people from the SUV. Police said the injuries to the others have not been made public.
One child in the Chevrolet, who was 11 years old, died from injuries suffered in the wreck. Authorities did not immediately release the child’s name.
The fatality turned the crash into a homicide investigation under New Mexico law once impairment-related driving was considered among the contributing factors. State police said the child’s death occurred after the crash, following transport for treatment.
Open containers and sobriety tests raised impairment concerns
Officers said they found multiple open containers of alcohol inside the Dodge. During an interview and sobriety testing, an officer also observed signs that Velasquez-McCormick may have been impaired.
Police said the driver told investigators he had consumed alcohol and used marijuana before the crash. Those statements became part of the evidence reviewed by state police after the collision.
The agency did not say whether a toxicology result had been completed. Based on the investigation, officers moved forward with charges tied to intoxication, reckless driving and the open containers found in the vehicle.
Driver booked on homicide by vehicle and DWI charges after release
After he was released from the hospital, Velasquez-McCormick was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. State police said he faces charges of homicide by vehicle while DWI, aggravated DWI causing bodily injury, reckless driving and open container.
The arrest came after investigators connected the crash to alcohol, marijuana use and dangerous driving behavior. Police have not said when he is expected to appear in court.
The case remains under investigation by New Mexico State Police. For now, officials are still treating the crash as a deadly reminder of how quickly speeding and impairment can turn a highway lane change into a fatal rollover.
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