ALBUQUERQUE – APD tells us that their Fatal Crash Team is currently investigating a fatal crash that happened at the intersection of Juan Tabo and Central NE. An ambulance struck a motorcyclist and the motorcyclist died after being transported to the hospital. Southbound Juan Tabo at Central is currently shutdown while the traffic team investigates what happened.
More details will be released once they are available.
UPDATE:
This evening, the Albuquerque Police Department released an update which said:
“On January 11, 2025, at approximately 2:30p.m., the Fatal Team was dispatched to a fatal crash involving an Albuquerque Ambulance and a motorcycle at the intersection of Juan Tabo Blvd and Central Ave.
A preliminary investigation, including a review of RTCC camera footage, indicated that the Albuquerque Ambulance was traveling southbound on Juan Tabo and crossing the intersection with Central. The ambulance was operating with its lights and sirens activated. The video showed the ambulance entering the intersection from the far left lane at a slow speed. After ensuring it was clear, the ambulance proceeded diagonally through the intersection to enter the far left lanes of southbound Juan Tabo. As it was crossing the final lane of Central, a motorcyclist was seen entering the intersection from eastbound Central. The motorcyclist did not appear to slow down for the ambulance and struck the passenger side door.
A field officer obtained a brief statement from the ambulance driver, who stated he did not see the motorcycle as he entered the intersection.
The motorcyclist was transported to UNMH in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”
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God be with this family who lost a loved one today terrible I saw the motorcycle there was nothing left of it broke my heart not sure they ever heard the ambulance so many time you don’t hear emergency vehicles. So sad
@Brenda
You mention how they might not have heard the ambulance. Probably had headphones on. Either way though he didn’t see the ambulance in the road? It would seem the motorcycle driver was just not paying attention to his surroundings. If your aren’t paying attention then you get what you get. Also what about the ambulance staff that now have to live with this tragedy? They did what they were supposed to do yet this inattentive rider slams into them. They were probably on the way to help someone. Hopefully that person also is on
this report isn’t correct. I saw the accident. The Ambulance was on the far right lane headed southbound Juan Tabo. lights and sirens on, it stopped, looked for the all clear, then accelerated into the intersection. What he didn’t see IS on the far right lane of Central Ave eastbound, the Motorcyclist HAD the green light. Motorcyclist didn’t see the ambulance coming thru the intersection on a red light… it was just the perfect storm… 🙁 Motorcyclist struck the front passenger side of the Ambulance, it plowed him down, the ambulance proceeded to run him and the bike over. Both, under the dually wheels of the ambulance caused the rear-end of the ambulance to go airborn like hitting a speed bump too fast. 🙁 Things taken away from this: perhaps we could decrease the number of deaths IF ambulances, fire, police would NOT proceed thru red lights. Had they waited a minute or 2, they would have had the green light to go. So, whomever initially called 911/ambulance… now they had to really wait longer for another amubulance dispatch.
Motorists are supposed to let ambulances with flashing lights and sirens to pass through the intersection even if the motorist has the green light. That’s because the ambulance is going to an emergency. If ambulances had to stop at every red light while driving to an emergency, the victim might not survive.
This is another example of the “Me first” mentality of so many Albuquerque drivers and motorcyclists who don’t care about rules of the road.
Supposed to* if they see the Ambulance coming… in this case he didn’t. Ambulance “assumed” it was clear before accelerating thru intersection. It’s unfortunate, at the end of the day motor vehicle always wins in an accident involving a motorcycle. Ambulance had the “me first” approach. How many times do we see congestion of traffic and unable to get out of emergency vehicles way? It doesn’t mean we’re in the “me first” perspective. It just means emergency vehicles should take better caution until we can get out of the way.