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NEWS
Albuquerque man charged in fatal DWI crash on New Year's Eve
Person killed was passenger in other vehicle
Published
A man is accused of driving drunk and speeding before getting into a deadly crash on New Year's Eve in Northeast Albuquerque.
Joshua Montoya, 24, is charged with two counts of DWI-related homicide by vehicle in the crash that left one person dead. He was arrested Dec. 31 and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Thursday.
Montoya does not currently have an attorney, and his family declined to comment.
Prosecutors filed a motion Friday to keep Montoya behind bars until trial.
"The defendant killed another person and endangered the lives of others by driving while under the influence of alcohol," according to the pretrial detention motion. "If released, the defendant could easily consume more alcohol and drive another vehicle, endangering more lives. His disregard for the lives of others makes conditions of release untenable."
Albuquerque police officers were dispatched Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash involving a white Lincoln and a silver Honda at Indian School and Wyoming NE, according to the criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.
Officers said one of the drivers — identified as Montoya — had a "distinct smell of an alcoholic beverage and admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages prior to the crash," the complaint states.
"The preliminary investigation indicated the white Lincoln was heading south on Wyoming Blvd. when the driver went to make a left-hand turn (east) on Indian School," Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson with the Albuquerque Police Department, said in a news release. "When the white Lincoln entered the intersection, a U-Haul was in the turn lane obstructing the driver's view."
Police obtained traffic footage that showed Montoya's vehicle speeding north on Wyoming before crashing into the Lincoln, according to the complaint.
The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, Gallegos said. Montoya and the driver of the Lincoln were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
