Woman who died after hit-and-run crash had deep Santa Fe roots
Oct. 17—A Santa Fe woman who was struck by a driver Tuesday evening while walking near a county road has died from her injuries.
The pedestrian who died Wednesday at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center was identified by county officials as 43-year-old Monique Maes, a mother of two who was born and raised in Santa Fe.
Close friends of Maes noted her strong ties to the community, her faith and her decades of work for the city of Santa Fe, where she was a contract administrator at Buckman Direct Diversion, a water-related project managed by the city.
Maes was walking with her two children near Paseo Nopal when the incident occurred, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. A news release from the agency indicated at least one witness saw the vehicle drive away after the incident.
The sheriff's office provided few details about the hit-and-run and the agency's investigation, noting investigators were still seeking information from the public.
Deputies said Maes' two children, ages 8 and 12, were also struck by the vehicle; they were treated for their injuries at a local hospital and released.
Deputies seized an abandoned vehicle they believe was involved in the crash later Tuesday night. The white SUV was found parked at an intersection several miles from the scene of the crash with "front-end damage," the sheriff's office said.
The white 2005 Chevy Equinox was found abandoned near Paseo de la Tierra and Estrada Calabasa, according to the agency's news release.
Sheriff's office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila wrote the SUV "was not stolen" but declined to provide details about the vehicle in an emailed response to questions Thursday.
Investigators had not identified a suspect, Womack-Avila said.
"We're hoping someone will come forward with more information," she said.
Maes was one of two children born in Santa Fe to parents Leo Maes and Rita Maes.
"They're such a beautiful family loved by everyone who crossed their path," former city Judge and County Commissioner Virginia Vigil said in an interview.
Maes' mother had been "instrumental" in developing a senior citizen program in Santa Fe, Vigil said, and her father — who is deceased — retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Maes was an active member at St. Anne Parish and involved in multiple prayer groups in the city, Vigil said, adding people close to her called her by the name Mona.
"The family is very well entrenched in Santa Fe," Vigil said. "They're very strong in their religion, and I'm sure that they have the support of all of those that have surrounded them throughout their lives."
Another close family friend, the Rev. Bill Sanchez, said Thursday that Maes' loved ones were shocked and "devastated" by her tragic death. He noted Maes' deep ties to her community, referring to her as "bright and gregarious." He said she loved to travel abroad, and had a curious mind.
"She was just so loved by so many people," Sanchez said. "It's a real tragedy."
When the crash occurred, Sanchez said, Maes had been in a field near her mother's house on Paseo Nopal, on a walk with her two children after eating dinner. A witness said the driver of the SUV was speeding and driving "erratically," Sanchez said.
Maes and her children for several years had also lived at a residence nearby on the same road.
A statement from Mayor Alan Webber said Maes began working for the city in 2000. She worked in the city's finance department, Vigil said, in addition to her current role with the Buckman Diversion Project.
"We hope the family finds strength in the support of Monique's City of Santa Fe Family," Webber wrote. "We will do all we can to help ensure Monique's children are comforted and cared for during this tragic time."
He noted counseling services were available for city employees to help cope with the loss.
