The man killed by a motorist near Thoreau on Dec. 14 has been identified as Kenneth Benally, 65, of Crownpoint. According to a police report, Benally was hit by Megan Heintz of Cypress, Texas, at about 7 pm, near mile marker 53 near Thoreau.

According to report, Heintz told Deputy Shane Bennett of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office that she saw a pedestrian jump into traffic from the shoulder of the roadway, but did not manage to avoid hitting the man.

She told deputies that she hit Benally as she traveled in the west bound right lane of Interstate 40, and that she stopped in the center median after the accident.

“I was driving at 75 mph in the right lane,” she said, according to the report. “I (saw) a pedestrian (jump) into the traffic lane from the shoulder to the roadway. I attempted to turn left to avoid the pedestrian.”

Her Ford F-150 sustained damages to the front, right fender and passenger door. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Her passenger was asleep during the incident and awoke when he heard her scream.

Heintz was not cited in the incident.

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent