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By Kevin Hendricks
A traffic accident shut down Corrales Road on Feb. 25 from La Entrada to the Village Hall complex, leaving over 300 properties without power. The crash disrupted traffic and essential services, pushing the Village Council meeting back a week.
At the rescheduled meeting on March 4, Corrales Police Chief Victor Mangiacapra gave an update on what happened with the accident.
“The reason we weren’t able to gather last Tuesday, much to my disappointment, and probably many of yours as well, was a single-vehicle high-speed crash on Corrales road,†Mangiacapra said. “It’s absolutely a miracle that there were no pedestrians, equestrians or cyclists. Every time I leave here in the afternoon, there’s probably half a dozen in just the time it takes me to turn to Corrales Road. So that was truly a miracle, and fortunately, nobody was hurt.â€
Deputy Fire Chief Tanya Lattin said the driver was injured and went to the hospital after crashing into power poles and the gazebo behind the council chambers.
“The driver sustained only minor bumps and bruises and may or may not have suffered a medical episode,†Mangiacapra said. “ We don’t have confirmation on that. However, we found no evidence of alcohol use and nothing to support any abusive controlled substances either.â€
The driver also damaged the fence, mailbox and village hall sign. Mangiacapra said witnesses reported the driver was driving aggressively immediately prior to the crash and was issued a citation for reckless driving after the crash.
Former Village Councilor Fred Hashimoto also spoke at the delayed meeting about the crash, saying his wife narrowly avoided the incident.
“My wife could have been significantly injured or worse had she not made a last-minute decision to not head down la Entrada to Corrales Road just about when the accident happened,” Hashimoto said. “Â She, or anyone else, could have been idling her car waiting to get onto Corrales Road when the errant pick-up came crashing through.”
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