27-05-2025
‘It's always in the back of your mind': NMDOT worker recalls being hit by distracted driver on I-25
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – All it took was a few seconds for a driver to take her eyes off the road and slam into two New Mexico Department of Transportation workers on I-25 in San Miguel County. They both consider themselves beyond lucky they didn't lose their lives that day.
'It's always back there it's always in the back of your mind,' said Michael Sanchez, NMDOT worker. 'I tell the guys everyday the way we came into work today is the way we should go home this afternoon, didn't happen for us that day.'
Two weeks ago, on May 12, Sanchez didn't get to finish his work day. While working on a strip of I-25 between Ribera and Bernal, behind cones and multiple work zone signs, Sanchez was hit by a car.
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'One of the guys yelled 'watch it', any, by the time I heard that it was too late,' said Sanchez. 'All I remember is rolling and winding up underneath the cable line and the median.'
While lying there in shock, Sanchez said all he could think about was the rest of his coworkers.
'I was asking the coworkers that were there who else got hit, who else got hit,' said Sanchez.
Thirty yards away the car also sideswiped his partner who, after impact, rolled under the front end of a NMDOT vehicle.
Witnesses told police both men were airborne but somehow they are doing okay.
'I was hit on this arm, the elbow and my right side leg, upper leg my thigh and I don't know what I hit here with my chest,' Sanchez explained.
Sanchez said he hasn't been approved to go back to work yet, but he isn't sure he even wants to.
'We pass by where the accident happened and it's right away I get bad anxiety off of it so I don't know,' said Sanchez.
Something his wife, Betsy, has also picked up on. 'His hands just start getting antsy his demeanor is different,' said Betsy. 'What this girl did affected not just him, but it affected all of us.'
A police report filed by New Mexico State Police states the 20-year-old driver, Mistidawn Roybal, turned around to check on her dog when she hit the two men and an orange traffic control barrier.
'It hurts because I almost lost him that day and I don't want to lose him,' said Betsy.
They hope Roybal learns from her actions. 'I don't want to see this happen again, it's crazy,' said Sanchez.
Roybal is facing two petty misdemeanor charges and a this degree felony for reckless driving.
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