Judge to sentence man for deadly DWI crash on southbound I-25
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A judge is set to sentence a man accused of causing a deadly DWI crash back in November 2023 on Interstate 25 in Albuquerque.
The crash happened Nov. 1, 2023 at around 2:15 a.m. Investigators said a tan Lexus SUV was speeding southbound on I-25 and rear-ended a black Cadillac, leaving the Cadillac with severe damage.
Officers and paramedics responded to the scene. Paramedics took a woman in the Cadillac to the hospital in critical condition. She later died.
Meanwhile, officers pursued the driver of the Lexus as they allegedly ran away from the scene. Eventually, New Mexico State Police detained the driver and brought them back to the scene. Police identified the driver as Alex Tafoya, who officers said appeared to be impaired. They also said they found open containers within his vehicle and learned of his two prior DWI arrests.
After screening Tafoya for impairment, police arrested him on charges of leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily harm, great bodily harm by vehicle and having open containers.
After the woman died, prosecutors upped Tafoya’s great bodily harm by vehicle charge to DWI homicide. Tafoya pleaded guilty to that charge and now faces 15 years in prison.