By Geoff Grammer
The Santa Fe New Mexican
SANTA FE, N.M. — The ambulance involved in a Tuesday morning head-on collision on Interstate 25 passed a U.S. Department of Transportation inspection in July.
Albuquerque attorney Michael Cadigan, who represents Rocky Mountain EMS, provided a copy of the annual inspection form — a 49 CFR, 396 — for the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter ambulance that was struck head-on by the 2007 Nissan Altima traveling more than 100 miles per hour by Kylene Holmes, 26, of El Paso.
Holmes died at the scene, and her 38-year-old passenger, Jennifer Michelle Belvin, remains at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.
The 19-year-old certified EMT driving the ambulance, Vanessa Carrillo, remains hospitalized in Albuquerque.
“Rocky Mountain EMS is concerned that false statements have been made about its involvement in the tragic drunk driving accident that occurred involving an ambulance near Santa Fe on Tuesday,” Cadigan wrote.
“The ambulance involved in this accident was properly maintained and passed all required inspections,” he added.
The inspection form provided, while it does confirm the vehicle passed inspection, does not directly put to rest the concerns of at least two former Rocky Mountain EMS employees who told The New Mexican — some former employees have spoken with other news organizations — that they believe the airbags in the ambulance did not properly deploy in the crash.
Those former employees said the same ambulance was involved in a crash near La Bajada hill two years ago with airbag deployment and said they worry the air bags were never reinstalled.
The inspection form does not have any reference of air bags.
Cadigan said that it is improper to discuss the air-bag question until the full crash report is released.
“We haven’t been told the air bags weren’t deployed,” Cadigan said.
Santa Fe Deputy Police Chief Abram Anaya on Friday said the department has not made any public statement regarding the air-bag deployment and won’t until the crash report is finalized. A timetable for that report has not been set.
Cadigan also took exception to media reports questioning the insurance coverage of Rocky Mountain EMS.
The New Mexican asked company owner Ed Little on Wednesday if there was proper insurance for Carrillo at the time of the crash and he declined to answer.
In a telephone conversation Friday, Cadigan said he believes disgruntled former employees are “trying to exploit a tragedy” because they have an ax to grind with the company.
Cadigan said Carrillo’s injuries will be covered under workers compensation insurance and said there is no insurance requirement that a company ambulance driver must be 21 years old.
Meanwhile, an attorney from Cowgirl BBQ met with Santa Fe police on Friday and, as he told The New Mexican, provided information about Holmes and Belvin drinking at the downtown business before the crash. Attorney Dan Cron, representing Cowgirl, said there is a credit-card receipt indicating the women had one drink each at the business.
Anaya said Cowgirl BBQ has been very cooperative with the investigation.
A Cowgirl employee called police at 1:35 a.m. to report that two intoxicated women were getting into a car, which matched the description of the Nissan Altima, near Guadalupe and Sandoval streets.
Police Chief Aric Wheeler said the caller reported that he had offered to call a cab for the women and warned them that he would call police if they tried to drive.
The crash on I-25 north of the Cerrillos Road exit was reported at 2:24 a.m.