Police: Quad driver’s blood had pot, alcohol

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Investigations into the exact cause and repercussions of an accident at the 25th annual Mount Taylor Quadrathlon are still in progress.

New Mexico State Police Trooper Craig Vandiver, on the scene when a U.S. Forest Service truck went out of control and damaged 23 high-end bicycles, nearly striking numerous participants, volunteers and spectators, said in a state police report that Craig Trinkle, the driver, appeared to be still in the throes of a seizure when officers reached the truck. When Vandiver opened the truck to turn off the engine, Trinkle was disoriented and abnormally stiff, the report said.

Medical reports obtained by court order revealed the Trinkle had some level of alcohol and marijuana in his system in addition to prescription drugs. The level of intoxicating substances has not been released.

Based on the medical evidence, Trinkle was arrested and ordered to appear in magistrate court in Grants on March 13.

Chuck Hagerdon, district ranger for the forest service, said the information given him indicated that Trinkle tested negative in a “breath-alyzer” test at the scene and his office is waiting to hear more specific results. A small amount of alcohol in the blood tests might indicate some drinking the night before. Any amount of marijuana is not only illegal, but against forest service policy. Hagerdon said the service prohibits the use any illegal substances on or off the job. The forest service has begun an internal investigation conducted by a team from employee relations, part of the National Service Center, based in Albuquerque.

“They talk to all of us (at the ranger station),” Hagerdon said. He added that when the employee relations has all of the information, the district will take appropriate administration action.

No information is available concerning the prescription drugs Trinkle was taking or any possible previous problems of this nature. Hagerdon said the service cannot comment on an employee’s medical information.