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 injured with a brain bleed and lacerated internal organs. He said Barber has been with New Mexico National Guard for about 10 years.
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 Code of Military Justice.”
Deputies say Barber was driving north in the southbound lanes of I-25 around 2 a.m. when he crashed into a sport utility vehicle carrying the three men. Diego Arellano and Escaname-Hernandez were pronounced dead at the scene and Barber – who smelled of alcohol – was “disoriented” and had a half-empty bottle of liquor in his truck, according to court documents
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