Police: Baby in car seat ejected from vehicle in crash on I-40; mom arrested after fleeing scene

A young child in a car seat was ejected from a white SUV in a crash near westbound I-40 and Wyoming Boulevard in Albuquerque Monday.

Police said the mother, 36-year-old Georgette Vigil, fled the scene of the crash, leaving the 18-month-old child behind.

The child was still strapped into the seat when officers arrived. The baby suffered several small cuts and was hospitalized but police said the child didn’t appear to have any major injuries.

Albuquerque police later found the vehicle and driver in the 500 block of Dallas SE.

APD spokesman Tanner Tixier said the preliminary investigation indicates Vigil lost control of her vehicle and hit the jersey barrier on westbound I-40. According to APD, Vigil fled the scene after the child was ejected.

Tixier said Vigil showed signs of intoxication when she was arrested and was transported to a local hospital with a cut to her head.

He said she is expected to be charged with felony child abuse when she is released.

Tixier also said a second child, approximately 3 years old, was in the vehicle during the crash. The child did not appear to be injured but was transported to a hospital for cautionary reasons.

A man, identified by police Tuesday as 34-year-old James Moquino, fled the vehicle when when the original crash happened and has not been found. Tixier said Tuesday he has an active felony warrant for his arrest, which is “more than likely the reason he fled.”

Vigil has no criminal record in New Mexico, according to state court records, but there is a pending child custody case.

On Tuesday, the Children, Youth and Families Department confirmed the 18-month-old child is currently in state custody. The other child is in the custody of a family member.

Police also on Tuesday released the 911 calls from the incident. We’ll have more on those coming up on KOB Eyewitness News 4 at 5, 6 and 6:30 p.m.