⏱ 2 min read
A drunk driver with a history of reckless behavior struck and killed a pedestrian on a dirt road in the Borrego Pass area of New Mexico. Debbie Rojack, 46, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was behind the wheel of her gray 2019 Ford SUV on August 6, 2024, when she hit and killed John Doe. Rojack had been drinking a six-pack of beer that day and was approximately a “5 out of 10” in terms of intoxication. She claimed she thought she had struck a deer and didn’t stop to investigate because she was alone and it was late at night.
Rojack’s vehicle was found to have significant damage to the driver’s side and deployed airbags. An autopsy of John Doe’s body revealed that he died from blunt force injuries consistent with vehicular trauma, including multiple fractures and a severed spinal cord. Rojack later admitted to drinking and driving, and to being the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Rojack pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Upon her release, she will be subject to two years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque.
The sentence brings closure to the family of John Doe, who was last seen leaving work on August 5, 2024, and whose body was discovered four days later. The case highlights the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions behind the wheel.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
