Albuquerque Officer Killed

[Tank]

Jeff Russell, a 16-year Albuquerque Police Department veteran, died when the patrol car in which he was driving from his home in the East Mountains into the city struck the back of a street sweeper on Interstate 40 in Tijeras Canyon. Russell had moved into the far left lane from behind a semi truck to pass it when he hit the street sweeper that was moving slowly straddling the shoulder and hanging halfway out into the passing lane... he didn't have a chance to avoid it. Russell, 46, was the father of four children, including a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old. He was a huge Clint Eastwood fan and one of the few officers who carried a revolver (.44 Mag) on duty. He will be missed by all of us.

Tank

[DelC]

Truly some sad news. What the hell is a street sweeper doing on the interstate anyway?? One would think they would have an escort vehicle with it!! My heart goes out to you, your co-workers and the family.

[Tank]

DelC,

There is quite a bit of ass-covering going on by the the highway department right now... the investigation is underway still. The hwy dept says that the law states that they do not need and escort vehicle on an interstate provided that the shoulder is sufficient to contain the working vehicle. In this situation, the shoulder is wide enough, except on bridges, where the shoulder narrows to about 3-4 feet... which forced the cleaner out into the fast lane. The hwy dept contends that they were within the law, because the bridge is but a small portion of the interstate. I don't know where the dust will settle, but I do know that since the accident, I have not seen a sweeper on any road, be it interstate, or city street, without at least one escort vehicle. I am getting dressed, as I write this, to go to the gravesite... we bury him in about one hour and I'm part of the firing squad.

Take it easy.

Tank