Driver may have texted before crash

BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) - A fatal moped accident occurred Sunday night, and police believe that the driver was text messaging minutes before the crash.

Douglas Flores, 41, was killed when his moped crashed into a telephone pole. Flores' vehicle was seen driving off of the road before the crash at around 9:00 p.m. Sunday.

Witnesses also told deputies that he may have been trying to text message while driving the scooter.

The accident was outside the Albuquerque city limits where it's not illegal to text or talk on a cell phone while driving.

However, authorities said that cell phone usage while driving is dangerous.

"I'm not familiar with a lot of crashes in this regard, but obviously it's a very dangerous thing for anyone operating a motor vehicle to be doing," Bernalillo County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Erin Kinnard Thompson said.

Police advise to pay full attention to the road when driving.

"Keep both hands on the wheel, also keeping your full attention on the roadway, try to use hands-free type devices instead of trying to text when you're driving," Deputy Gilbert Garcia said. "Especially you're riding a motorcycle or a little scooter."

John Walsh of the Albuquerque Police Department said that in Albuquerque texting while driving illegal, even on a moped.

Drivers can also be cited for talking on a cell phone, putting on make-up or eating while operating a motor vehicle.

The sheriff's office said that the investigation may include looking at Flores' cell phone records at the time of the accident.

Right now, the sheriff's department has not been able to locate his cell phone at the scene of the crash.