Albuquerque Teen Accused in Drunken Rollover Crash That Killed 11-Year-Old Boy Will Remain Jailed Until Trial, Police Say After Thursday Hearing
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — An 18-year-old accused of causing a deadly rollover crash in Albuquerque will stay in jail while the case moves toward trial. Police say the crash killed an 11-year-old boy after the teenager tried to pass a semi-truck and hit an SUV near Unser Boulevard and Interstate 40.
Malachi Velasquez-McCormick appeared before a judge on Thursday. Albuquerque police say he admitted drinking and smoking marijuana before the wreck. Investigators have charged him with four counts, including homicide by vehicle, in connection with the Friday night crash.
Police say the crash began when the driver tried to pass a semi-truck
According to Albuquerque police, the sequence started late Friday night as Velasquez-McCormick attempted to go around a semi on the roadway. Officers said he struck the rear of an SUV during that maneuver.
The impact set off a rollover crash involving both vehicles. Police said the 11-year-old boy died as a result of the collision. No other details about the child or the people in the SUV were included in the information released by investigators.
Admission to drinking and marijuana use became part of the case
Albuquerque police said Velasquez-McCormick told investigators he had been drinking and using weed before the crash. That admission appears to be central to the charges filed against him.
The allegation that he was impaired at the time of the wreck raises the stakes of the case, especially because it ended in a child’s death. Police have not said whether additional evidence, such as toxicology results, has been made public. The charge list already includes homicide by vehicle, which signals that investigators believe the alleged conduct led directly to the fatal outcome.
Judge orders the 18-year-old to remain behind bars
Velasquez-McCormick faced a judge on Thursday, and the court decided he will stay in jail until trial. That means he will not be released while the case is pending.
The hearing marks an early step in a case that is still developing through the criminal justice system. No trial date was included in the information released by police, and authorities have not outlined any plea or defense arguments. For now, the judge’s decision keeps the accused driver in custody as the charges move forward.
Four criminal counts have been filed in the Albuquerque case
Police said Velasquez-McCormick faces four charges in all. One of those is homicide by vehicle, a serious charge tied to deaths caused by alleged reckless or impaired driving.
The other charges were not listed in the brief information released by Albuquerque police, but the department said the case remains active. The collision happened near two major roadways, Unser Boulevard and Interstate 40, a busy area where traffic conditions can change quickly and passing maneuvers carry significant risk.
Deadly crash adds to fears about impaired driving on city roads
The case is likely to draw attention because it involves a teenager accused of driving while impaired and a child who died in the crash. Even in a short public update, police framed the incident as a combination of alcohol, marijuana use and a dangerous passing attempt.
Authorities have not announced any changes to the roadway, and no broader policy response was included in the update. For now, the focus remains on the criminal case, the evidence police say supports it, and the judge’s decision to keep the defendant in custody until trial.
