Man dies in crash

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 62-year-old Portland, Ore., man was killed early this morning when his semi-truck struck a guardrail near Mile Post 95 on Interstate 40.

The man was identified as Thomas Lotz, according to Lt. Rick Anglada, a spokesman for the New Mexico State Police Department.

Lotz reportedly swerved into the interstate's median at about 3:20 a.m. as he attempted to pass traffic that was traveling in the westbound lanes. He then overcorrected, which caused his 2000-model semi-truck to strike a guardrail and roll onto its left side. Anglada said Lotz was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled onto its side. Lotz was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

Oncoming traffic was diverted to State Road 124 until about 7:30 a.m. while authorities cleared the wreckage from the roadway.


Criminal damage
A 32-year-old Tohatchi man was arrested on Thursday night for shattering a local movie theater's window with his fist.

Aaron Kinsel is facing a fourth-degree felony charge of criminal damage to property in connection with the incident.

Investigator Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said police officers were called to the Aztec Five Theater, 911 W. Aztec Ave., at about 8:15 p.m. in reference to Kinsel harassing customers outside the business.

Kinsel reportedly became angry when a theater employee confronted him about bothering the business's customers. When officers arrived at the business, they found one of the windows shattered and Kinsel lying in a pile of broken glass. He reportedly sustained several gashes to his head and cheek areas and was bleeding heavily.

Emergency responders transported Kinsel to Gallup Indian Medical Center where he was treated and released. He was then booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on the single criminal charge.

Toadlena-Pablo said Kinsel was intoxicated when he allegedly broke the window.