Police Blotter: State Police: Wanted man was 1 of 2 killed in head-on crash

GALLUP, N.M. (AP)

One of two people killed in a head-on crash on Interstate 40 near Gallup following a police chase was a wanted man from northwestern New Mexico, authorities said Tuesday.

According to the New Mexico State Police, Gerard John, 25, of Brimhall and Ray Lee Jim, 21, of Fort Wingate were killed in the early morning of June 6.

Their pickup collided with a tractor-trailer rig while driving the wrong way after being chased by Gallup police who had broken off the pursuit before the crash occurred, the State Police said.

Felony warrants for John alleged armed robbery and multiple other crimes.

The State Police said previously that the pickup sped away from a motel where Gallup police went in response to a report of two men brandishing a gun.

A State Police sergeant who fired a shotgun at least once at the wrong-way pickup on I-40 remained on standard administrative leave pending an investigation, the State Police said Tuesday.

Neither person in the big rig was injured in the crash.