New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran hit a pedestrian driving home on NM-599 Thursday night, but authorities say the 46-year-old man was already dead.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the man was crossing NM-599 Thursday night when he was "struck by several vehicles and killed."

On Friday, Duran, who was driving one of the vehicles, issued a statement saying she was "shocked and saddened" by the incident, and that she thought the pedestrian was an animal that had been hit by a car.

Santa Fe Police Capt. Aric Wheeler tells SFR that after hitting the man, Duran pulled over, then "proceeded to her residence, where she called police." Wheeler says SFPD made contact with Duran 5-10 minutes after the accident and observed "no signs of impairment."

"Alcohol does not appear to be a factor with any of the drivers at this point," Wheeler says.

Despite an email that apparently has been sent to various media outlets alleging that Duran was drinking alcohol beforehand, Wheeler says his office has received no reports of her drinking alcohol that night.