ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police arrested an 18-year-old man accused of killing an 11-year-old child in a DWI crash Friday night on I-40 in Albuquerque.
New Mexico State Police arrested 18-year-old Malachi Velasquez-McCormick on Saturday. The day before, at around 9:54 p.m., officers responded to a two-vehicle rollover crash in the eastbound lanes near Unser Boulevard.
According to NMSP, Velasquez-McCormick was driving a gray Dodge “at a high rate of speed” when he tried to pass a semi-truck. As he tried getting back into the other lane, his vehicle struck the rear passenger side of an SUV, causing both vehicles to roll over.
The SUV had six people inside. One of them was the child who died.
Velasquez-McCormick, the three passengers in his car and three passengers from the SUV were taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
“Officers found multiple open containers of alcohol in the Dodge. During an interview and sobriety tests, an officer observed signs of impairment. Velasquez-McCormick told the officer he had consumed alcohol and used marijuana before the crash,” NMSP stated.
Velasquez-McCormick is in the Metropolitan Detention Center on the following charges:
Homicide by vehicle (DWI)Aggravated DWI (bodily injury)Reckless drivingOpen container