The Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Department is looking for a man who allegedly fled the scene of a drunk driving accident Monday that resulted in injuries.
Gerald Archuleta, 38, of Abiquiú, was allegedly driving down the wrong side of Rio Arriba County Road 189 in Abiquiú around 4:30 p.m. when he caused a head-on collision with Anton Jensen, 30, of Youngsville, deputy J.B. Turner said. Archuleta allegedly told witnesses that when deputies arrived he would go to jail, so he abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene instead.
One of Archuleta’s passengers, Edwin Archuleta, 28, whose relation to Gerald Archuleta is not known, suffered a face laceration and a possible broken left collarbone, Turner said. Archuleta’s back seat passenger, Melissa Lopez had leg pain, and was transported to Española Hospital by ambulance along with Edwin Archuleta.
Jensen, who had been in the area looking at a house for sale, suffered a swollen arm after the airbag in his Jeep Cherokee deployed, but declined medical treatment.
Both Jensen’s vehicle and the Toyota Tacoma that Gerald Archuleta was driving were totalled, Turner said.
Sixteen-ounce bottles of Budweiser beer were found on the floorboard of the Tacoma, beer was spilled on the seat, and witnesses said Gerald Archuleta appeared drunk. He fled the scene up the side of a hill west of Highway 285, and deputies gave chase but lost him.
Gerald Archuleta pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2004, according to an online court records database.
Witnesses told Turner that Gerald Archuleta had complained of an injury to his left eye. Turner noted there was apparently no injury to the fugitive’s legs.
“He could run, let me tell you,” Turner said.
Anyone who knows Gerald Archuleta’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Department at 753-3329.