Four unidentified airmen from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico are under investigation for their role in a fatal automobile crash Saturday night, which may have involved street racing.
Kirtland spokesman Jim Fisher confirmed the airmen’s involvement in the crash, and said all four were injured. Three of them, who were in critical condition at first and are now stable, are still hospitalized, Fisher said.
Local news station KOB reported on Sunday that the airmen’s car tried to pass another car, when it struck and killed a woman crossing the road. The car then careened into an apartment building, and the driver was taken into custody, KOB said.
KOB said the airmen may have been street racing. Fisher declined to speculate on the cause of the accident and could not confirm that a race may have been involved.
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Fisher said that the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, and Air Force investigative authorities — including Kirtland’s staff judge advocate — are cooperating on the investigation. Because the crash happened off-base, jurisdiction in the case automatically lies with local authorities, Fisher said, but the Air Force is ready to participate further if necessary.
The investigation is still in its early stages, Fisher said, and names of the suspects cannot be released until charges are preferred against them.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.