Coked Up City Worker Charged with Crashing City Vehicle on I-40

Albuquerque –

As we reported to you yesterday, a rollover crash involving a City of Albuquerque Sun Van temporarily shut down Interstate 40 eastbound between 98th Street NW on Wednesday, December 24th. Albuquerque Police Department dispatchers said an unknown caller reported seeing the city vehicle strike a guardrail and rollover.

That driver has now been identified as City of Albuquerque mechanic, 44-year-old Robert Candelaria of Albuquerque. He is now being charged with causing the crash.

According to the criminal complaint, while officers were responding, a witness reported that Candelaria had left the crash scene and appeared to be placing himself in danger on the highway.

When officers arrived, a brief foot-chase ensued and a use-of-force incident was reported, but Candelaria was eventually taken into custody.

Candelaria told officers he had been “test-driving” the city vehicle when he lost control while traveling eastbound, causing the van to hit the guardrail and roll. He said he did not recall exiting the vehicle but remembered people gathering around him, which he said then triggered symptoms related to his post-traumatic stress disorder.

He then informed the police that he had walked away from the crash site, but he couldn’t recall the reason behind his decision. Candelaria also shared with APD officers that as he was walking away from the accident, he remembered stumbling into the roadway and narrowly escaped being hit by a passing vehicle. At some point, he remembered later encountering responding officers.

While on scene, Candelaria was asked by the investigating officer if he intentionally caused the accident in an attempt to take his own life. At that point, he told police he’d only lost control of the vehicle.

The complaint says officers located a white powdery substance inside the Sun Van, which tested positive for cocaine. Candelaria was transported to Lovelace Hospital for treatment of injuries. While at the hospital, police said Candelaria admitted to using cocaine and indicated the crash was intentional, attributing his actions to significant family-related stress. As part of the investigation, officers obtained consent for a blood draw.

After being released from the hospital, Candelaria was transported to the Prisoner Transport Center and booked on the charges of DWI Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor or Drugs (Open Count)(Misdemeanor), Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony, and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident (No Great Bodily Harm or Death). He was booked into MDC on Christmas Eve December 24th at 10:06 PM.