Elizabeth Red Star-Benson, Involuntary Manslaughter, South Dakota 2014

A devastating DUI crash has claimed the life of a young child in South Dakota. 27-year-old Elizabeth Red Star-Benson, a/k/a Elizabeth Shantelle Benson, a/k/a Elizabeth Red Star, was behind the wheel of a vehicle on BIA Hwy 27 near KILI radio station on August 31, 2012.

Red Star-Benson, who had a blood alcohol content of .261, lost control of the vehicle and rolled it, ejecting her four-year-old son. The child suffered traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins.

On January 10, 2014, Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken of the U.S. District Court sentenced Red Star-Benson to 5 years of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Red Star-Benson was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Her actions have left a family shattered and a community in mourning.

This senseless tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. We urge everyone to make responsible choices and prioritize road safety.

The Grimy Times sends its condolences to the family and loved ones of the child who lost his life in this horrific crash.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/oglala-woman-sentenced-causing-death-child