Suspected Impaired Driver Crashes Into State Police Vehicle on Camera

A suspected impaired driver struck a New Mexico State Police patrol car on Interstate 40 near milepost 31 in McKinley County Thursday night while officers were in the middle of a separate traffic stop, and camera footage captured the entire collision.

State police said the crash happened along I-40 near milepost 31 in McKinley County on Thursday night during a stop involving a separate reckless driver. Police identified Tiffany Jim as the driver allegedly behind the wheel when she hit the officer's patrol car.

The footage underscores a danger that roadside officers face routinely: even a lawful, controlled stop can turn life-threatening in seconds when an impaired motorist approaches from the roadway. In this case, officers were already managing one enforcement situation when Jim's vehicle made contact with the parked patrol unit.

New Mexico State Police has not publicly disclosed whether any officers were injured in the collision, or what specific charges Jim faces. The incident remains under investigation. NMSP routinely releases formal charges and officer condition updates in follow-up press releases through the state Department of Public Safety.

New Mexico consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per mile traveled, and NMSP has made DWI enforcement a sustained priority across all 33 counties, including Sandoval County corridors along U.S. 550 and Interstate 25.