A 41-year-old New Mexico science teacher with two previous DWI convictions and another DWI arrest is facing charges once again for a crash in April that injured two teens on Highway 84/285 between Espanola and Santa Fe.

According to New Mexico State Police, the man was driving the wrong way in his pick-up truck on the busy highway near the Buffalo Thunder exit on a Friday night. An officer followed him, trying to get him to stop, but to no avail.

The head-on crash left the wrong-way driver, who teaches science at the Santa Fe Indian School, pinned under his truck. Officers allegedly found a bottle of whiskey in the truck.

The two young women in the other vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, were transported to the hospital, where they were placed in intensive care. The driver of the Passat had to be pried out from behind the wheel with a chainsaw by first responders.

Dramatic police dash cam video shown captured the chain of events, including the truck going the wrong way, the crash and the recovery efforts.

The teacher was charged with two counts of DWI causing great bodily harm. He is currently under house arrest pending trial, except to go to work. It was not reported whether he has been suspended from his position at the school.

Both women would end up in intensive care, but would survive. Witnesses then told police what they saw happened.

No matter how carefully we drive, we can be helpless in the face of a drunk and/or reckless driver. Although an at-fault driver can face serious criminal charges for his or her actions, victims and surviving family members can also take civil legal action to seek compensation for medical treatment, lost wages and other damages. It’s wise to explore your options with an experienced New Mexico personal injury attorney.

Source: KRQE 13, “Santa Fe teacher accused of wrong way DWI crash,” Jeannie Nguyen, Sep. 14, 2017