The Associated Press
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) -- A Chaves County sheriff’s deputy suffered leg injuries when he was struck by a car driven by a man later charged with drunken driving.
“Usually we’re the ones out hunting down drunk drivers. (Tuesday) a drunk driver hunted one of our guys down. And it was very bad,” Chief Deputy Rob Coon said Wednesday.
Sgt. Ray Campos, 36, and another deputy had pulled over a vehicle when an sports utility vehicle approached their marked units early Tuesday, Sheriff Pat Jennings said.
Investigators believe the driver slammed on his brakes, and the vehicle slid into the police cars. The SUV hit Campos, throwing him over a patrol car.
He underwent eight hours of surgery at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.
“He’s got a big battle ahead of him. It’s a long rehabilitation,” Coon said.
The driver was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, accident involving death or personal injury, no insurance, no evidence of registration, driving with a suspended license and careless driving.