Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – An 11-year old child was killed in a two-vehicle rollover crash Friday, Sept. 25, on I-40 near Unser Boulevard.
New Mexico State Police officers responded to the crash around 9:54 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.
NMSP investigators determined that a Dodge passenger car driven by 18-year old Malachi Velasquez-McCormick, with three other passengers, was traveling east on I-40 at a high rate of speed when he moved to the right lane to pass a semitruck. After passing the semi, he attempted to return to the left lane and hit the rear passenger side of a Chevrolet SUV with six occupants on board, causing both vehicles to roll over.
Velasquez-McCormick and his three passengers, along with three passengers from the Chevrolet were transported to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown but tragically, an 11-year-old child in the Chevrolet died from injuries sustained in the crash.
State Police officers found multiple open containers of alcohol in the Dodge. During an interview and sobriety tests, an officer observed that Velasquez-McCormick showed signs of impairment. Police say he told the officer he had consumed alcohol and used marijuana before the crash.
Following his release from the hospital, Velasquez-McCormick was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on the following charges:
- Homicide by vehicle (DWI)
- Aggravated DWI (bodily injury)
- Reckless driving
- Open container
