Felony tampering charge filed after fatal Highway 64 DWI crash

Prosecutors elevated a tampering allegation to felony status on Jan. 16 when they filed charges in San Juan County District Court stemming from a Dec. 21 crash that left a pedestrian dead along Highway 64 in Farmington. The new charge accuses a passenger of moving or placing scene evidence in a case that also includes a DWI homicide investigation.

Deputies were dispatched at about 4:47 a.m. on Dec. 21 to reports of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision near the Speedway gas station and the Pesco building. Responding officers located a female pedestrian lying in the roadway; she was pronounced dead at the scene. A white Kia Sorento was found nearby and identified as the vehicle involved in the collision.

Court records identify the driver as Jose Alexander Orozco Obando, a citizen of Nicaragua. Deputies reported indicators of impairment, including bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of an intoxicating beverage. Because Orozco Obando primarily spoke Spanish, deputies used a department-issued translation application during questioning. Investigators administered field sobriety tests and obtained a blood warrant; blood samples were collected at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

Prosecutors allege passenger Karina Ivon Hernandez-Rios moved or placed a 12-pack of Corona Extra at the scene; deputies reported broken bottles and wet liquid in the area. Investigators noted tread patterns on Hernandez-Rios’ shoes consistent with impressions near the beer case. Hernandez-Rios denied placing the beer, according to charging documents. The tampering allegation is being pursued because scene evidence can directly affect determinations of impairment and criminal responsibility in a DWI homicide.

Both the DWI homicide case against Orozco Obando and the felony evidence tampering case against Hernandez-Rios remain pending in San Juan County courts. The filings are based on sworn affidavits and charging documents; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty under the law.

For Farmington and greater San Juan County, the case underscores several immediate concerns: public safety along Highway 64, the evidentiary importance of preserving crash scenes, and the procedural complexities when language barriers intersect with criminal investigations. The presence of a foreign national among the defendants also highlights the need for clear language access and the legal safeguards that apply in cross-border contexts.

As court dates are scheduled, local residents can expect prosecutors and law enforcement to develop the record through forensic testing, witness interviews and court proceedings. The outcome will shape accountability in a case with tragic consequences for the family of the deceased and ongoing relevance to traffic safety and investigative standards along this stretch of Highway 64.