A truck driver was arrested on Monday after hitting two motorcycle riders at an intersection in New Mexico.
The accident happened on May 29th in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, police were called after a truck driver struck two motorcyclists when it failed to yield to them while turning at the intersection of Carlisle and Claremont. When officers arrived, they found 60-year-old Michael Cartagena shaken, fidgety and acting odd. He allegedly told police that “I was turning, I just couldn’t stop,” while also denying being in a crash.
“Michael’s behavior was erratic and disruptive, he cycled between anger, denial and annoyance,” one officer wrote of the incident.
Cartagena admitted to using multiple prescribed medications, but blamed the crash on being tired. He denied consuming drugs or alcohol but did not perform well in sobriety tests. During a search of his truck, officers found paraphernalia, lighters and “a small, white, crystal-like substance” which later tested positive for cocaine.
Both motorcycle riders were seriously hurt in the accident – one sustained extensive head injuries and the other sustained a serious leg injury.
Cartegena has been charged with a DUI leading to a crash resulting in great bodily harm, possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and failing to yield before completing a turn. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
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