TRAFFIC THROWS NEW MEXICO OFFICER OVER I-40 DIVIDER

An Albuquerque police officer is recovering from being hit by a car and thrown over an Interstate 40 barrier into oncoming traffic. The officer, identified as Jeffrey Abernathy, is reported to be in serious but stable condition at UNM Hospital.

Abernathy had pulled over a sedan on westbound I-40 near 6th Street NW about 5 p.m. for a traffic violation and was out of his cruiser at the time of the incident, according to reports. A pickup truck then struck the APD car from behind shoving it into the sedan which struck Abernathy throwing him over the median barrier onto eastbound I-40.

An off-duty officer reported stopped and positioned his car to protect Abernathy who was unconscious on the pavement. The woman Abernathy pulled over also was taken to a hospital with reports she'll be OK. A passenger in her car and the woman driving the pickup truck were not injured, police reported,

Westbound I-40 was close until about 8:30 p.m.