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Brandon Roybal-Barber (MDC)

Wrong-way driving led to head-on collision, killing two on I-25 in 2021

“I want to see bad driving.”  New Mexico State Police Lieutenant Kurtis Ward scanned traffic, weaving his Ford Expedition through northbound traffic on Interstate 25. It was 8:37pm on a wintry Friday night. A full moon was cresting the Sandias.  The workday of the DWI Unit had just begun.  “I watch for that car that’s […]

By MATTHEW REISEN | The Albuquerque Journal | Published: May 6, 2021 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Tribune News Service) — An off-duty police officer accused of driving drunk and killing two men in a wrong-way, head-on crash in the Albuquerque area last weekend is also a captain in the New Mexico National Guard. Guard spokesman Joseph Vigil said the Guard is aware of the May 1 crash involving 29-year-old Capt. Brandon Barber — also a probationary officer with the Cuba Police Department — that left Diego Arellano, 21, and Alfredo Escaname-Hernandez, 50, dead and Fernando Arellano, 21, severely in...

He said Barber has been with New Mexico National Guard for about 10 years. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families who are affected,” Vigil said in a statement. “We are committed to ending the tragedy of drunk driving and alcohol abuse in our communities and amongst our ranks. Alcohol/substance abuse is inconsistent with the army values and impacts the readiness, safety and welfare of personnel within the New Mexico National Guard.” He said Guard members who do not follow department regulations concerning drinking and driving are “subject to legal action under the Uniform Co...