Gallup Police Seek Tips After Woman Killed on I-40 Exit 22

Gallup Police are asking the public for help after a female pedestrian was found before 11pm on February 3 on Interstate 40 west near Exit 22 and later pronounced dead at the scene. The department has not released the victim’s name.

According to a Parnall Law Firm summary of the police account, officers responded to the scene at 10:56 p.m. and "found a female pedestrian who was pronounced dead at the scene." KKOB’s reporting likewise says the woman "appeared to be in shock but was later pronounced dead at the scene."

A witness told investigators the woman "was hit by a semi-truck but had no other information," a description repeated in both KKOB and Parnall accounts. No identifying details about a truck, license plates, or driver were provided in those reports.

Another local account attributes a different set of facts to Gallup Police Captain Erin Toadlena-Pablo: Nativeknot reports a hit-and-run at 8:48 p.m. next to the Sun Valley Apartments on Joseph M. Montoya Boulevard, where bystanders said they "noticed 'something on the road' that 'looked like a body.'" That account says a witness followed a "silver in color SUV-type vehicle, the Captain added, possibly with New Mexico plates," north on U.S. Highway 491 after the collision, reporting possible front-end damage.

The timelines, locations, and vehicle descriptions differ across the accounts: KKOB and Parnall place the Feb. 3 death on I-40 west near Exit 22 with a witness reporting a semi-truck and a 10:56 p.m. response time, while Nativeknot gives an 8:48 p.m. hit-and-run on Joseph M. Montoya Boulevard involving a silver SUV. Those discrepancies suggest the reports may describe separate incidents or conflicting witness recollections; police have asked the public for information as their investigation continues.

Gallup Police are directing anyone with information to contact Metro Dispatch at 505-722-2002, the Gallup Police Department at 505-863-9365, or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 877-722-6161. KKOB notes that McKinley County Crime Stoppers "offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in criminal activity."

Investigators have not released further identifying details about the victim or whether a vehicle has been located. Gallup Police continue to seek tips as they work to reconcile witness accounts and determine the circumstances of the fatal collision.