Farmington Police have identified the man killed early Tuesday in a police-involved crash.
Ernest Begay, 46, was struck about 12:15 a.m. April 14 by a police car while lying in the roadway near East Broadway and North Butler Avenue, according to a news release from Farmington Police Department spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales.
Officer Jasmine Hernandez was driving a patrol car while searching for a suspect who “fled the area on a bicycle. She did not see Mr. Begay in the roadway and struck him,” Gonzales said in a prepared statement.
A second officer arrived at the scene and nearly struck Begay, but according to Gonzales, the investigation shows Hernandez’s vehicle was the only one involved in the crash.
Begay was pronounced dead at the scene.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, and the Tri-City Record on April 15 submitted an Inspection of Public Records Act request for the case report, officer interviews, and videos and photographs from the crash.
The Farmington Police Department also released security camera footage from a nearby business. The footage showed Begay lying in the roadway across from Pancake Alley on Broadway.
The police cruiser is visible in the video approaching and striking the man, moving his body on impact. A second cruiser swerves to avoid hitting him.
“The Farmington Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ernest during this difficult time,” Gonzales said.
This story was updated at 4 p.m. April 15, 2026, to include the name and age of the man, who was killed.
