ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – KRQE News 13 has obtained a new video showing a woman’s response after she allegedly drove drunk and hit a firefighter in Albuquerque.
New Mexico State Police responded to a crash on I-25 going northbound near the Comanche exit at 2 a.m. on Oct. 27. Police said Rebecca Melchor crashed into the initial car accident and hit a firefighter at the scene.
In body camera video, Melchor can be heard explaining what happened. “I was slowing down. I was coming off the exit. He was walking across with a bag, and I slammed my brakes. I’m like, ‘oh my god, oh my god.’ and I just… the impact… and I’m so sorry.”
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She told a state police officer she was heading home from a club downtown. Then police followed up with an important question:
Officer: “How much have you had to drink tonight?
Melchor: “I had one drink.”
Officer: “Just one?”
Melchor then explained she had two glasses of wine around 6 p.m. and one cranberry vodka cocktail around 11:30 p.m.
An officer noted that he smelled alcohol coming off of Melchor’s breath. Police then searched her vehicle and found an open container in the passenger door. She was charged with two counts of driving under the influence.
One officer later visited the firefighter in the hospital to see if he could remember anything from that night. The firefighter recalled the moments right before the crash. “I just kind of remember looking to the right and a dark shape, like from me to you. And that was it. It was lights out,” the firefighter said.
Melchor pleaded not guilty to her charges.
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