Investigation turns up missing man

The investigation of a report of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 40 east of Tucumcari turned up a missing or endangered man from Los Lunas.

According to a report from the Quay County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent the morning of June 8 to mile marker 336 on I-40 to investigate an elderly wrong-way driver going east on the westbound lanes. The vehicle eventually exited and began traveling east in the correct lanes.

Officers stopped the vehicle at mile marker 369 of I-40. The driver was identified as Walter Spencer of Las Lunas. A check of Spencer’s driver’s license revealed he was an endangered or missing person. A deputy called a phone number attached to the report and spoke with Spencer’s daughter, who said she would come pick up her father at the sheriff’s office in Tucumcari.

“Mr. Spencer said he had no health issues but also seemed to be confused when asked questions,” deputy Dennis Garcia wrote in his report.

Spencer was picked up by his daughter that afternoon.

A deputy drove Spencer’s vehicle to Russell’s Travel Center near Endee and secured it in its parking lot. The vehicle later was brought to the sheriff’s office so Spencer’s family would not have to drive to Russell’s to retrieve it later.