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Joseph Apodaca

Gender : Male

Age : 36

Race : White

Date : 05/22/2026

Location : 7200 block of State Road 518

City : Taos

County : Taos

State : New Mexico

Agency : Taos County Sheriff's Office

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Officer killed during police pursuit crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 05/22/2026, Taos County sheriff’s deputies attempted to locate a reckless driver on State Road 518 south of Taos. According to New Mexico State Police, a deputy driving a marked sheriff’s office pickup truck turned left into a dirt driveway while Sergeant Joseph Apodaca was riding a department motorcycle behind the vehicle. Apodaca crashed into the driver’s side of the pickup truck during the pursuit response. Emergency responders transported him for treatment, but he died from his injuries later that night. Authorities said the reckless driver deputies were attempting to locate was not involved in the collision. Apodaca had served with the Taos County Sheriff’s Office since 2018 after previously working at the county detention center. New Mexico State Police are investigating the crash.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/taos-county-sheriff-sergeant-killed-in-fatal-crash-during-vehicle-pursuit/
https://www.koat.com/article/taos-county-sergeant-dies-in-an-on-duty-crash/71392682
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/taos-county-sheriffs-sergeant-dies-in-crash/