Cannonball Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

BISMARCK – A Cannonball woman has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for her role in a deadly car crash that killed two passengers.

Barbara Iron Hawk, 28, was operating a motor vehicle on N.D. Highway 24 between Cannonball and Solen on Nov. 8, 2012, while she was intoxicated. The vehicle nearly entered the ditch on the right side of the road, but Iron Hawk over-corrected, causing the vehicle to cross the road and enter the opposite ditch, where the vehicle flipped multiple times.

Two passengers in the vehicle died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the crash.

Iron Hawk pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter on March 15, 2013. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on June 17, 2013, to serve four years on each count to run consecutively for a total of eight years to serve in federal prison.

Judge Hovland imposed a sentence greater than suggested by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, citing Iron Hawk’s extensive tribal criminal history involving the use of alcohol. Iron Hawk’s tribal criminal history included in excess of 20 prior criminal violations.

Iron Hawk will be on supervised release for three years following the term of imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund and $130,146.38 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Standing Rock Agency and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

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