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.
2 men killed while changing flat tire identified https://t.co/dw9i8J5lMa pic.twitter.com/Wd2olWR6bv
— KOAT.com (@koat7news) March 8, 2018
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.
Deputies: Woman driving drunk hits, kills 2 men changing flat tire https://t.co/IBJv2zzohH pic.twitter.com/BwOcdloVI6
— WYFF News 4 (@wyffnews4) March 8, 2018
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.
This is the driver who killed the two men on I-25 last night. Court records show 31-year-old Christie Noriega's BAC was .16 or higher. She's facing 2 counts of homicide, aggravated DUI and child abuse. .@koat7news pic.twitter.com/ykobYs2mBz
— Sasha Lenninger (@SashaKOAT) March 8, 2018
BREAKING: Officers have shutdown I25 just south of Bernalillo after a deadly wreck. Sandoval Co. Deputies say a driver was fixing their flat tire when another car slammed into them .@koat7news pic.twitter.com/0IXJegRGdR
— Sasha Lenninger (@SashaKOAT) March 7, 2018
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.
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