ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico State Police officers jumped into action after they saw a car driving the wrong way on Interstate 40. The officers’ cameras were rolling and captured the moments they caught up with the suspected drunk driver, Jaclyn Archibeque, on April 12.
The officers pinned Archibeque’s car in from both sides to stop her from driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-40. The 30-year-old driver said she was coming from a northeast Albuquerque bar and was heading to her northwest Albuquerque home; Archibeque was going in the right direction to head home but in the wrong lanes of traffic. The officers questioned Archibeque, who said she got turned around while heading home.
Officer: How did you get on I-40?
Archibeque: Um. I took Montgomery to Paseo. I live on, like, Paseo and Universe.
Officer: Okay. Paseo and Universe? Like on the west side?
Archibeque: Yeah.
Officer: Okay. Which way are you heading now?
Archibeque: This way.
Officer: You’re heading this way?
Archibeque: Like, Paseo and Universe. Yeah.
Officer: Which way is your car heading?
Archibeque: Right now, it’s heading west.
Officer: Okay. It’s heading west? In the eastbound lanes?
Archibeque: I know. I know. I know.
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As the officer questioned Archibeque, he tried to get her to understand the serious nature of her decisions.
Officer: When did you get on the wrong side of the roadway? Do you know that?
Archibeque: I do know that. I just…
Officer: When?
Archibeque: Um, probably going westbound I-40.
Officer: That doesn’t make sense.
Archibeque: I know. It’s literally just, like, my wrong bad with directions.
Officer: Okay. Well, you know what? Your wrong bad directions, or whatever you want to call it, could have killed somebody.
Archibeque: I know.
Officer: Or yourself. Or us. Or me. Or my partner.
Archibeque: I know, and I don’t want that.
Officer: Well, nobody wants it, but it happens. Okay?
Archibeque admitted to having a few drinks, but during a sobriety test, she stated, “I promise I’m just scared. I’m not drunk.” The officer responded, “You’re scared? If you’re scared, imagine how we feel when we see lights going the wrong way.”
Officer: How much did you drink today? And be honest with me.
Archibeque: No, I’ll be honest with you. I had, like, maybe two tequila sodas and, like, one tequila shot.
Officer: Do you think maybe that’s why we’re driving the wrong way on the roadway?
Archibeque: I didn’t put my directions in, so probably.
The officer’s lapel camera shows Archibeque failing to follow the instructions on sobriety tests. After being placed under arrest, Archibeque continued to make excuses, blaming driving in the wrong lane on getting lost.
Archibeque: I’m sorry. It’s literally just. Finding the Paseo exit was, like, literally all of my mistake.
Officer: Yeah. You’re not even close to Paseo right now.
Archibeque: Okay.
Officer: I mean, I think you realize that now, right?
Archibeque: Yeah.
At the police station, Archibeque blew more than double the legal limit on her breathalyzer test. She is now facing charges of aggravated DWI and driving the wrong way and has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
