Metro Dispatch received multiple calls about a gray Pontiac with no license plate information swerving on and off the road heading westbound on Coal Basin Road at 10:15 pm on July 19. Many of the people calling said the car had almost caused an accident.
Metro Dispatch told McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Terrence Willie that the car was parked in front of ABQ Recycling at 61 Coal Basin Rd. in Gallup.
When he arrived, Willie saw the car, and met with a witness who said she saw the driver hit a large rock in front of the business.
According to his report, Willie saw a woman, later identified as Christina James, 31, from Gamerco, and noticed she had bloodshot, watery eyes. He saw two miniature bottles of Yukon Jack in the car’s front center console.
James said she was coming from Twin Lakes and going to ABQ Recycling to pick up parts for her car. Willie noticed that James had blood on her face, and he asked her where it came from. She said it was just from a pimple.
James admitted that she had drunk a Twisted Tea around 10 that morning. She said she had not had any drugs or medication. Willie noticed that James was unable to keep her balance and kept swaying back and forth.
James failed the field sobriety tests. Willie transported James to the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, where she gave breath samples of .22 and .22. Willie drove her to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where she was charged with a DWI, two counts of driving while intoxicated with a minor in the vehicle, open container, and not having her driver’s license.
By: Molly Howell
Sun Correspondent
