The driver of a truck that hit UNM student Wolfgang Scott-Cohen said police promised to keep him updated on Scott-Cohen’s condition. But, the driver said, he never received any notifications, not even after Scott-Cohen died.
“They whisked him away because he was hurt,” he said. “The cops said they are going to let me know, but they haven’t said a damn thing.”
Driver Michael Barros said police promised to contact him following the Feb. 10 incident, but said he didn’t even know the name of the student until he spoke with the Daily Lobo. Scott-Cohen fell into a coma as a result of the accident and died Tuesday night.
“I’ve been wondering about him, and I called to the police station the day after it happened, but they were closed over the weekend, and the next day there was another accident nearby and I asked that cop, but they told me ‘Well if he would have died, they would have let you know,’ so I kind of took it that he was doing alright.”
Albuquerque police told the Daily Lobo on Feb. 12 that Scott-Cohen had been hit by a drunk driver, but the official police report states Barros had not consumed any alcohol.
UNM Public Information Officer Casia Martinez said there was no DWI investigation connected to the incident, and Barros said he was not intoxicated at the time.
“Oh no, I don’t drink and drive at all,” Barros said.
Martinez said she was unable to obtain any documentation about the incident late Thursday night and that she does not know if Barros will face any charges.
“The case gets forwarded to the district attorney and they will decide if there is going to be an investigation,” she said. “I do not know if there are any pending charges.”
According to the police report, multiple witnesses said Scott-Cohen ran the stop sign at Adams Street while heading west on Claremont Street and was struck by Barros, who was driving south.
Barros said he called for help and several PNM workers who were in the area monitored Scott-Cohen until an ambulance arrived.
“I got out of my truck going ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’” he said. “We called 911 and they came down and were tending to the guy, but he had trauma to his head and you could see it.”
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Scott-Cohen’s sister, Pegeen Scott-Cohen said in a text message that a hospital staff member “who didn’t have correct information” told the family her brother was hit by a drunk driver.
Barros said he wanted to contact Scott-Cohen’s family but was unsure of how they would respond.
“God bless his soul and his family,” he said. “It’s hard to know whether I should call his family, or are they going to hate me? This is a hard position to be in.”
