Man fleeing officers is killed on I-40

Elise Kaplan and Martin Salazar, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·1 min read

May 10—ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man police say was running from officers was struck and killed on Interstate 40 Sunday night.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said Justin Anaya was suspected of throwing rocks at vehicles at a West Side hotel. He said Anaya was trying to cross eastbound Interstate 40 when he was struck by a vehicle just west of Coors.

He did not provide Anaya's age.

Gallegos initially said APD officers responded to a call at a hotel around 10:45 p.m., but in an update he said that officers had been working in the area near Iliff and Coors to address concerns about crime.

"Officers were flagged down due to a subject seen throwing rocks at vehicles in the parking lot of a hotel," he said. "Officers were able to observe the subject and attempted to make contact to investigate."

Gallegos said Anaya ran north, "crossing various fences to gain access to the highway" and was struck and killed by a vehicle. Paramedics were called but were unable to save him.

Gallegos said APD's motor unit was conducting a crash investigation while the Multi-Agency Task Force was conducting the in-custody death investigation. Eastbound I-40 was closed at Unser as authorities investigated.