The City of Albuquerque will pay $950,000 to settle a civil lawsuit stemming from a crash involving former Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina more than two years ago, KRQE reports. Under the settlement reached in late September, Todd Perchert will receive the amount for his serious injuries.
Based on the news report, on February 17, 2024, Perchert was making his way through a busy intersection on Central Avenue in his 1966 Ford Mustang when Medina’s department-issued truck struck the drivers’ side of the victim’s vehicle. Medina was serving as the city’s police chief at the time.
Medina later explained that gunfire in the area prompted him to drive through a red light and enter the intersection. His wife was in the passenger seat of his truck when the incident happened, according to KRQE.
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The collision left Perchert in critical condition, the news outlet added.
KRQE, citing Perchert’s attorney, reported that he sustained eight broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone and shoulder blade, and facial injuries. He also underwent a seven-hour operation to repair his shattered ribs within titanium plates.
Per the news outlet, the New Mexico Department of Justice also investigated the crash, but prosecutors ultimately decided not to file criminal charges against Medina.
An Albuquerque Police Department Internal Affairs board, however, found Medina violated department policy by failing to drive safely. It also determined that he deliberately chose not to turn on his body-worn camera, according to KRQE.
What's Next
KRQE reported that the $950,000 agreement settles Perchert’s civil lawsuit against the city. Perchert’s attorney said the settlement cannot change what happened, but he hopes the agreement will help Perchert and his family find some closure, as reported by the news outlet.
Why It Matters
An Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson told KRQE that the crash and the shooting that preceded it resulted in no fatalities. The incident underscores the importance of road safety and the need for drivers to remain alert and attentive behind the wheel.
About This Story
Daily Reports is Brant.One's news roundup. Each day we gather the New Mexico stories worth knowing from newsrooms across the state, sum them up and point you to the source. This one comes from KRQE's reporting, and their original story has the interviews and full details.
