City mechanic arrested after allegedly crashing ABQ Ride Sun Van on purpose

A city of Albuquerque employee is accused of intentionally crashing an ABQ Ride Sun Van while high on cocaine Wednesday on Interstate 40.

Robert Candelaria, 44, is charged with possession of cocaine, driving under the influence, evading arrest and leaving the scene of an accident. He was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday. 

"We are awaiting the results of both the police and internal investigations," said city spokesperson Dan Mayfield. "At this time, the City cannot comment further on personnel matters."

Albuquerque police were dispatched to I-40, near 98th, after a caller reported that a Sun Van paratransit vehicle had struck a guardrail and flipped over, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. 

The caller told police that the driver — later identified as Candelaria — was trying to jump in front of vehicles on the highway while fleeing the crash, the complaint states. Police detained Candelaria, who told officers he was doing a test drive of the van when he lost control while speeding. 

Candelaria told police he did not remember how he got out of the vehicle but remembered a crowd surrounding him, which triggered his post-traumatic stress disorder and sent him into a "flight or fight" mindset, and he tried to leave the area, according to the complaint. 

"As he was walking away from the accident, he had stumbled into the road and was almost struck by a passing vehicle," the complaint states. 

Police asked Candelaria if he intentionally crashed the vehicle and he initially said no. Officers found a white substance inside the van that was later confirmed to be cocaine, the complaint states. 

Officers asked Candelaria if he did cocaine while driving the Sun Van and he said "he did consume cocaine and the crash was an attempted suicide," according to the complaint. 

Candelaria later told police he had not seen his children in some time, which caused him to feel suicidal, the complaint states.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.