Posted on Apr 03, 2023

News: Man charged in Albuquerque crash that injured adult, girl

ALBUQUERQUE, NM -  A suspect has now been officially charged in a crash that injured two people in Albuquerque last week, KRQE reports.

37-year-old John Bearden Jr. appeared in court last Tuesday in connection with the case.  According to police, Bearden stole a work vehicle after an employee left it running at the state fairgrounds on Monday.  He then allegedly drove through a stop sign near Bell Avenue and San Pedro Drive and collided with an SUV.

Two people in the SUV, a 43-year-old man and a 10-year-old girl, were seriously injured and hospitalized.  Bearden was reported to have told police he was on methamphetamines and because disoriented, causing him to speed in the stolen vehicle and crash into the other vehicle.  Police said he fled the scene of the crash but was later apprehended.

Bearden is facing charges of fleeing the scene of a crash, stealing a car, andgreat bodily harm by motor vehicle.