Albuquerque, New Mexico – A Bernalillo County sheriff’s sergeant died Monday after being struck while investigating a crash along Interstate 40 outside Albuquerque.
According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Michael Schlattman was conducting a traffic stop on I-40 Monday afternoon when a semi-truck struck his patrol vehicle from behind. Officials said Schlattman had exited his cruiser before the impact. The collision pushed the patrol unit forward, pinning him beneath the vehicle and killing him at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said the crash remains under investigation. No additional details about the semi-truck driver or potential charges were immediately released.
Schlattman joined the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in 2012 and was promoted to sergeant in 2024. Law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania, publicly expressed condolences following the announcement.
His death marks a significant loss for the department and the broader law enforcement community in New Mexico. Interstate 40 is one of the state’s busiest east-west corridors, frequently traveled by commercial vehicles and commuters.
Further updates are expected as investigators review the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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