SANTA FE, N.M. (Washington Insider Magazine) – Law enforcement authorities were scouring the Santa Fe region for a suspected kidnapper whose fleeing from police into oncoming traffic resulted in deadly car accidents on Wednesday, killing a police officer chasing him as well as at least one other driver.
Robert Duran, a 43-year-old senior police officer assigned to the department’s patrol branch, was identified as the officer killed on Wednesday night.
Duran joined the police in January 2015, according to them. He is survived by his wife and 2 teenage boys.
Officer Duran was well-liked and respected by his coworkers, according to Santa Fe interim Chief Of police Paul Joye.
As officers from numerous agencies continued their hunt, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber swore to bring justice to the fallen police officer.
There is no question that the united law enforcement officials working on this case will discover the culprit. In a statement, Webber stated that “justice will be served.”
According to ABC NEWS, the kidnapping occurred at 11 a.m. at an apartment building when a man holding a knife reportedly stole a car occupied by a lady.
Officers tried unsuccessfully to stop the car, but it drove onto Interstate 25, according to authorities. According to authorities, the suspect headed south in the northbound lane, into oncoming traffic, toward Albuquerque.
According to authorities, the chase ended in a collision involving 4 vehicles: 2 police cars, 1 suspect vehicle with the victim inside, and another vehicle.
Two persons were killed in the accident, according to police, including a driver in the 4th vehicle who was not participating in the chase.
The culprit, according to police, managed to flee.
The kidnapped victim was also able to escape and was transported to the hospital. Her name was likewise kept under wraps for some time.
While police hunted for the perpetrator, phones rang across the region with an emergency alert telling people to keep away from the freeway, which had turned into a large crime scene.
The roadway was clogged with police vehicles, including at least one helicopter, according to Mikaela McCray, a hostess at a restaurant near the collision scene.
