A man from Pigeon Springs received a three-year probation sentence for his involvement in a fatal drunk driving crash that resulted in the death of a passenger.
Court documents state that on September 22, 2024, Irvin Virgil Wauneka, Jr., age 35 and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving under the influence of alcohol. After consuming alcohol, Wauneka fell asleep at the wheel with Jane Doe as his passenger. His impaired driving led to a head-on collision with another vehicle. Jane Doe died at the scene due to her injuries. Passengers in the other vehicle survived but were injured; they will receive restitution.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the sentencing.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case along with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting.
