Gregory Hasman
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
(TNS)
Oct. 28—A woman was arrested after allegedly hitting an on-duty firefighter while driving intoxicated on Interstate 25 early Sunday morning.
Rebecca Melchor , 24, of Cochiti Pueblo , is charged with great bodily harm by vehicle (driving while under the influence) careless driving and open container.
Melchor is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center . Her attorney could not be reached for comment.
Prosecutors filed a motion to keep Melchor behind bars until trial, saying that her actions “endangered the lives and safety of all of the first responders as well as the motoring public.”
“In particular, she inflicted significant injuries to the firefighter that she hit,” according to the motion. “This incident was completely avoidable on the defendant’s part because of the availability of designated drivers and ride shares. The defendant’s actions demonstrate a complete disregard for the life and safety of others. Moreover, this court cannot craft conditions of release that will ensure the public safety.”
Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesperson Jason Fejer said at 2:26 a.m. Sunday , AFR responded to a call of a vehicle hitting a Jersey barrier that resulted in a rollover northbound on Interstate 25 at Comanche.
At 2:51 a.m. Sunday , the New Mexico State Police arrived and saw an injured firefighter leaving in an ambulance.
Fejer said an AFR lieutenant was taken to a local hospital in serious condition with “serious injuries” after being struck by a vehicle while returning to their truck during a call.
“The impact caused a loss of consciousness and serious injuries,” he said.
Police said they later saw Melchor sitting in a Volkswagen with a damaged windshield acting “distraught and erratic.” They said she told them she was heading northbound on I-25 when she got off, “hit her breaks as fast as she could” and hit the firefighter before skidding to a stop. An Isleta police officer told State Police they “could hear the brakes lock up” before she hit the firefighter.
The complaint states that as police spoke to Melchor, she had watery and bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. Police said she then told them she had “a half a bottle of wine” and a vodka cranberry before getting in the car. They later found Mike’s Hard Lemonade in the vehicle.
“This weekend, one of our own was seriously injured while answering a call for service,” Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo said in a statement. “AFR firefighters face these dangers daily, and we are reminded of their courage and commitment to service in moments like this.
“We hope for a full recovery and will continue to support him and his family as he recovers from these injuries.”
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