ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) – Video from the Roswell Police Department shows the moment a crash that left a 66-year-old driver dead and a police officer injured took place in January.
Roswell Officer Jerod Candelaria was on his way to the scene of a crash with injuries with his lights flashing and sirens blaring when he got into a crash of his own on North Main Street.
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In the video, Candelaria is seen getting out of his patrol unit and calling for backup. He then went to check on the other driver, later identified as 66-year-old Howard Charles Peterson.
Concerned citizens stepped in to help the officer before other officers arrived on the scene. In the video the officer could be heard saying that he thought he broke his arm.
Other officers went to check on Peterson and broke the window to his Oldsmobile. They found Peterson was still alive but in need of medical attention.
Both Candelaria and Peterson were taken to the hospital, where the 66-year-old died from his injuries.
Police said Peterson tried to make a left turn across southbound lanes when the two vehicles collided. “He had his lights blaring, his horn blaring. Just as he flew by me, he got maybe another 50-100 yards past me; this gentleman turned in front of him, and he hit him,” a witness told an officer in a conversation that was captured by police body camera video.
Roswell Police said the crash is under investigation. Officer Candelaria has since returned to duty.