Man denied pretrial release for fatal DWI crash

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 31-year-old man was arrested Saturday for allegedly driving drunk and causing a fatal crash on westbound I-40 in Albuquerque.

A woman was working on her Honda’s flat tire in the emergency lane near Unser when a man driving a Hyundai stopped to help. Then, around 3:38 a.m. Saturday, police say a red GMC pickup slammed into the Hyundai parked behind the Honda.

Officers responded around 4:15 a.m. and found the two people. They were rushed to UNMH, where the woman was pronounced dead. The man was diagnosed with a brain bleed in critical but stable condition according to police.

The woman was identified as 50-year-old Albuquerque resident Wendy Hunn.

At the scene, police found the pickup and Raymundo Jaquez-Barallasco inside, allegedly with a strong odor of alcohol and “noticeably” red, bloodshot eyes. An officer said he was crying because his car was damaged.

Jaquez-Barallasco allegedly told police he consumed “just like three beers.” A criminal complaint says he performed poorly during a sobriety test, prompting police to arrest him for DWI.

Jaquez-Barallasco is charged with one count each of vehicular DWI homicide and DWI great bodily harm by vehicle.

On Monday, Jaquez-Barallasco made his first court appearance. Then, on Friday, Judge Clara Moran denied conditions of release for him pending a trial.