2 Men Killed by Drunk Driver Identified

By Bowen Xiao
March 8, 2018 Last Updated: March 8, 2018
(Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock)

Authorities have now identified two men that were killed by a drunk driver as they were changing a flat tire in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The victims were identified as 21-year-old Michael Chambellan of Albuquerque and 28-year-old Lonnie Escovedo of Santa Fe, Sandoval County Sheriff’s officials said.

The crash took place on the night of Tuesday, March 6, at the southbound I-25 near Algodones, according to ABC affiliate KOAT-TV.

One of the men pulled over in the emergency stopping lane to change a flat tire before another driver stopped by to help.

Then, as the two men were changing the tire, another driver crashed into them, police said.

Both men died at the crash site.

Police said 31-year-old Christie Noriega of Rio Rancho is the driver who killed the two men in the crash. At the time her 2-year-old daughter was in the car with her, according to KOAT-TV.

According to the Las Cruces Sun-News, alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Noriega has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide: aggravated driving while under the influence, and child abuse.

Court records show she had a blood-alcohol level of .16 or higher, which is double the limit. Police say she was slurring her words and found an open bottle of alcohol next to her car, WYFF reported.

The charges are pending as of writing. It’s also unclear yet if Noreiga has a lawyer.

Authorities closed the interstate highway for most of Tuesday night, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.

The men’s names were not released immediately because authorities were trying to notify their family members of the deaths.

At the time of the crash, traffic was being diverted.

“Drivers are being diverted onto 313. Please slow down. It’s going to take you longer to get home tonight. I25 will be closed until deputies are done with their investigation,” Sasha Lenninger, a reporter for KOAT tweeted.

From NTD.tv

 

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