ABQ RAW staff
Posted: 3/2/2022 1:58PM
Updated 3/2/2022 7:05PM
SANTA FE –
A kidnapping suspect lead Santa Fe Police on a police chase in the Santa Fe area going the wrong way on I-25. During the chase there was a crash that involved police vehicles and a civilian vehicle. It is confirmed one Santa Fe Police officer and a civilian were killed in the high speed crash. The suspect is still on the loose and both directions of I-25 are currently closed between mile marker 284 and 290 while Police search for the suspect.
Santa Fe PD has identified the officer as Robert Duran. He leaves behind a wife and two kids.
He joined the department in 2015.
Here is a statement from The Santa Fe Police Department:
Santa Fe, NM- March 2, 2022, Multiple Agencies including Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe Fire Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe County Fire Department and New Mexico State Police are on the scene of a Motor Vehicle crash on Interstate 25 north of Old Pecos Trail.
At 11:06 a.m. a kidnaping in progress was reported to the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center at the Rancho Vizcaya Apartments. A male armed with a knife was taking a vehicle occupied by a woman.
Soon after at 11:14 a.m. SFPD located the vehicle near Sawmill Road and St. Francis Drive. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and the driver fled in the vehicle.
While eluding, the driver traveled on to Interstate 25 at St. Francis Drive, traveling northbound in the southbound traffic. Between the Old Pecos Trail exit and the Eldorado Exit, the driver got on to the northbound lane of traffic traveling southbound.
A crash occurred at Mile Marker 286 in the northbound lane. The crash involved at least four vehicles; two Santa Fe Patrol Units, the fleeing vehicle and an uninvolved vehicle.
A Santa Fe Police Officer and an uninvolved motorist died in the crash. The names will not be released until next of kin is notified.
The female victim exited the fleeing vehicle and was transported to a local hospital.
Interstate 25 is closed in both directions for motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Old Las Vegas Highway is also closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Law Enforcement are on scene conducting an area search for the suspect. We are asking area residents to stay in their home.
More details will be forthcoming, active crime scene. These are preliminary details, this is still an active investigation and the scene remains active at this time.