A man from Pigeon Springs has been sentenced to three years of probation following a fatal drunk driving crash that occurred in September 2024. The incident resulted in the death of a passenger and injuries to others.
Court documents state that Irvin Virgil Wauneka, Jr., 35, who is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving under the influence after consuming alcohol and falling asleep at the wheel on September 22, 2024. Jane Doe, a passenger in his vehicle, died at the scene after Wauneka’s impaired driving led to a head-on collision with another car. Passengers in the other vehicle survived but sustained injuries; 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 case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting.
