NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Officer Bianca Quintana, Scott Habermehl, and Chuck Malagodi; these are just some of the people who have lost their lives on Albuquerque streets as pedestrians. It’s crashes like theirs, and dozens of others across the state, which continue to place New Mexico as one of the deadliest states for pedestrians.
Though some traffic trends show minor signs of promise, the state topped the chart once more for pedestrian fatality rates in 2024. That ranking comes from a preliminary report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), which was released earlier this week. According to the report, about 94 pedestrians were killed in New Mexico last year, which is about a 4% decrease from 2023. Bernalillo County makes up the majority of pedestrian crashes in the state.
Pedestrian dies in West Side Albuquerque hit and run
However, the report, which analyzes data from State Highway Safety Offices all across the country, says national pedestrian deaths are on a decline for the second year in a row. According to the report, more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed nationally, which is also a 4% decrease. Though researchers are optimistic about the trend, it’s still almost 20% more than in 2016.
In a statement from GHSA’s CEO, Jonathan Adkins, he stated, “The second straight year of fewer pedestrian deaths is a step in the right direction, but much more must be done to protect people walking.”…