A 67-year-old man accused of driving into a Christmas parade crowd on the Navajo Nation has been indicted on federal charges, officials confirmed this week.
Stanley Begay Jr. was taken into federal custody Tuesday afternoon after being charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office. The charges stem from the Dec. 22 crash at the Kayenta Light Parade, where a vehicle struck several paradegoers, killing a 3-year-old child and injuring others, including a pregnant woman.
Investigators say Begay was allegedly intoxicated when he drove his vehicle onto the parade route near the Kayenta Rodeo Grounds around 5:10 p.m., shattering what was meant to be a joyful community celebration.
“This event was meant to bring joy, unity and holiday spirit to our community,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, who expressed his grief on social media following the tragedy. “No one should have to experience tragedy during a season meant for love and togetherness.”
The collision also caused damage to multiple vehicles and nearby property. The Navajo Police Department, FBI, and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation are jointly investigating the case.
Authorities have asked anyone with video or photos of the crash to submit them through a portal provided by the FBI as they work to piece together the full sequence of events surrounding the deadly incident.
