By| Tim O’friel
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — A truck driver is reportedly wanted on a vehicular homicide charge nearly four months after a deadly collision involving a semi-truck and pickup along Interstate 40 east of Albuquerque.
The crash occurred Sunday evening, April 19, on westbound I-40 near Zuzax. Initial reporting from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the collision involved a semi-truck and a pickup pulling a flatbed trailer and resulted in a fatality.
The collision forced authorities to shut down westbound I-40 for nearly 10 hours while deputies investigated the scene. The interstate reopened at approximately 4:45 a.m. the following morning.
Driver now reportedly wanted
According to the information contained in court-record reporting provided to TWOSU News, investigators identified the semi driver as Jared Butler and the man killed as Antonio Aguilera.
Investigators allege Butler’s semi struck Aguilera’s pickup and flatbed trailer after the vehicle had pulled onto the shoulder of the interstate.
Aguilera was reportedly outside the pickup when the collision occurred. Authorities allege he was struck or pulled beneath the semi and suffered fatal injuries.
Early news reports immediately following the crash did not identify either man or provide those details. KOAT reported at the time only that the victim had been driving a pickup with a flatbed trailer.
Witnesses reportedly described semi swerving
According to the subsequent account, witnesses told investigators that the semi had been swerving before the collision, with some witnesses reportedly believing the driver appeared to be falling asleep.
Those allegations are significant, but they remain allegations and should not be presented as a judicial finding regarding what caused the crash.
The account further states that body-camera footage shows Butler declining to answer investigators’ questions without an attorney following the crash.
Butler was reportedly released at the scene with the understanding that he would contact investigators the following day.
Court records cited in the account reportedly state that the contact never occurred.
Vehicular homicide charge
Nearly four months after the collision, authorities reportedly consider Butler missing and are seeking him on a vehicular homicide charge.
A wrongful-death lawsuit has also reportedly been filed on behalf of Aguilera’s estate in connection with the crash.
A criminal charge is an accusation, and Butler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Likewise, allegations contained in a civil lawsuit have not necessarily been established as fact.
The original crash itself is independently corroborated by multiple reports. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the fatal collision on April 19, and authorities closed westbound I-40 at Zuzax while investigators processed the scene.
TWOSU News will update this story as additional court records or information from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office becomes available.