APS Chief Operations Officer dies while hiking La Luz trail

An Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman said Tuesday that the man who died while hiking atop Sandia Crest Monday morning was district Chief Operations Officer Ruben Hendrickson.

A New Mexico Search and Rescue officer told KOB Monday that Hendrickson was hiking the La Luz Trail with his family when he suffered a medical episode and hit his head. The group was about a half-mile from the top of Sandia Crest.

Crews worked for nearly an hour to revive Hendrickson, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken down from the mountain by medical personal and Albuquerque Police Department Open Space officers.

Hendrickson’s cause of death has yet to be determined by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Hendrickson was named temporary superintendent of the state’s largest school district after Winston Brooks’ contract was bought out and before Brad Winter was named interim superintendent.

Current APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy released a heartfelt statement regarding Hendrickson’s death Tuesday.