ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a crash on I-40 near Carnuel that ended in another tragedy. In January 2022, Albuquerque Police called A-Albuquerque Towing to help clear a crash scene. Tommy Avent was the tow truck driver dispatched.

According to a lawsuit filed by Avent, Avent asked for assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico Department of Transportation since it was a dangerous area to operate in. The lawsuit claimed that APD and NMDOT refused to assist him while he removed the inoperable car from the crash scene. That's when a driver hit Avent and took off.

The lawsuit said that the hit landed Avent in the hospital with severe injuries and with nearly $800,000 in medical bills. New court documents show the state is paying $350,000 to settle the lawsuit.

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