State Police officer hospitalized after rollover crash during high speed pursuit south of Santa Fe

A New Mexico State Police officer was hospitalized Sunday following a rollover crash during a chase south of Santa Fe. The suspect remains at large.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 4:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Santa Fe New Mexican

Multi Agency Traffic Stop Escalates into High Speed Pursuit

A joint law enforcement operation on Interstate 25 shifted into a dangerous high speed chase Sunday afternoon near the Santo Domingo Pueblo. New Mexico State Police officers were assisting the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs with a routine traffic stop around noon when the driver of the vehicle suddenly fled the scene. State police units immediately initiated a pursuit, tracking the suspect as they headed north toward the Santa Fe area.

Officer Injured as Patrol Vehicle Overturns Near Avenida del Sur

The pursuit took a violent turn south of Santa Fe, resulting in a serious rollover crash near the intersection of Avenida del Sur and N.M. 14. One State Police patrol unit overturned during the maneuver, causing significant damage to the vehicle and injuring the driver. Emergency medical teams were dispatched to the site, and the officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment. State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver confirmed that while the officer was injured, the wounds do not appear to be life threatening.

Secondary Unit Damaged as Suspect Evades Capture

The rollover was not the only collision involving law enforcement during the incident. A second State Police vehicle sustained minor damage while attempting to maintain visual contact with the fleeing suspect. Fortunately, the officer in the second vehicle was not injured and remained on duty. Authorities confirmed that no civilian vehicles were involved in the collisions and no other injuries were reported from the scene of the rollover.