The Briefing
• A Taos County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was killed in a vehicle collision late Friday while searching for a reckless driver in northern New Mexico.
• The crash occurred on N.M. 518 when the sergeant’s motorcycle struck another deputy’s vehicle that had turned into a driveway.
• Sgt. Joseph Apodaca, a 2018 agency hire and swift-water rescue team member, was pronounced dead around 11:45 p.m. Friday.
• The identity of the other deputy involved in the crash has not been released, police said.
TAOS COUNTY, NM — A Taos County Sheriff’s Office sergeant died Friday night after crashing his motorcycle into another deputy’s patrol vehicle while authorities searched for a reckless driver, officials said.
The collision occurred on New Mexico State Road 518 late Friday, when Sgt. Joseph Apodaca, riding a department-issued motorcycle, struck another deputy’s vehicle that had turned into a dirt driveway during the search effort, according to the New Mexico State Police.
Apodaca, who joined the sheriff’s office in 2018 and also served on the agency’s swift water rescue team, was pronounced dead at the scene around 11:45 p.m., authorities said.
State police identified Apodaca but did not immediately release the name of the other deputy involved in the crash as the investigation continues.
The search for the originally reported reckless driver was ongoing Friday night; officials did not immediately provide details about that suspect or any potential charges.