Arizona Driver Sentenced for Navajo Nation Crash that Killed Two

ALBUQUERQUE – In a grim reminder of the dangers of impaired driving, Marvin Albert Wauneka has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for a drunk driving crash that left two dead on the Navajo Nation. The Arizona man’s blood alcohol content was measured at .298 after the November 14, 2024, rollover.

Wauneka, a 40-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, had a prior DWI conviction when he returned to work drunk and then continued drinking before driving with four passengers on Navajo Route 54. The high-speed crash resulted in a single-vehicle rollover, killing two passengers at the scene and seriously injuring another.

According to court records, Wauneka’s blood alcohol content was .298 upon arrival at the hospital. He pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The defendant was previously sentenced to 167 days in custody by Navajo Nation Tribal Court for a similar offense.

Wauneka will be subject to three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office announced the sentencing today. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of drunk driving, especially on Native American lands where such incidents often have devastating effects.

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