More charges considered over deaths of Navajo sisters
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Filed Under:
Law
Authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, are considering more charges in connection with the deaths of two sisters from the
Navajo Nation.
Deshauna Peshlakai , 17, and Del Lynn Peshlakai, who would have turned 20 on Sunday, were killed when their family's vehicle was rear ended by a pickup truck. James Ruiz, 34, has been charged with vehicular homicide and driving with a revoked or suspended license.
Two people who were riding with Ruiz now face similar charges. Gilbert Mendoza, the owner of the pickup, and his unidentified girlfriend had been drinking with Ruiz prior to the accident last Friday.
The
New Mexico Court of
Appeals has ruled that passengers, in certain circumstances, can be charged
with the same crimes as the driver. In a high profile case last year, the passenger in a car that struck and killed a man from
San Felipe Pueblo in downtown Santa Fe was charged with vehicular homicide and being involved in a fatal accident.
In both accidents, the drivers and the passengers had been drinking. Ruiz's blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit.
Get the Story:
Official says Ruiz nearly 3 times over legal alcohol limit
(The Santa Fe New Mexican 3/10)
Bar Tab: 6 Drinks in 2 Hours Before Crash (The Albuquerque Journal 3/10)
Related Stories:
Alcohol blamed for crash that killed two Navajo
sisters (3/9)
Driver charged for deaths of
Navajo sisters in Santa Fe (3/8)
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