Sergeant Joseph Apodaca was killed pursuing a reckless driver at approximately 11:44 pm on NM-518 near a driveway at the 7200 block, between Ranchos de Taos and Talpa.
Around 10:25 pm that evening, Taos County Sheriff’s deputies were searching for a suspected reckless driver and were alerted that the suspect had used a driveway near the 7200 block. As Sergeant Apodaca was turning into the drive, his motorcycle collided with a sheriff’s deputy pickup truck turning left into the drive. Sergeant Apodaca suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced at the scene.
The suspected reckless driver is still at large.
Sergeant Apodaca had served with the Taos County Sheriff’s Office for 8 years, had previously served with the county jail, and was a member of the Swift Water Rescue Team.
Source: ODMP