FORT WINGATE, N.M. – Pinedale, New Mexico woman, Betrina Grey, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault after a fatal crash in 2017. The plea came on October 11 as part of a deal. Grey, 31, will face up to 10 years in prison. On October 14, 2017, Grey and four friends were driving down the road after an alcohol infused afternoon. It was around 6 p.m., near Fort Wingate, when Grey lost control of the vehicle. They crashed, rolling off onto the side of the road, ejecting one man identified in court records as John Doe 1 who died at the scene, and creating massive brain damage to another occupant of the vehicle, John Doe 2. Phone calls began to flood dispatch systems in both Cibola and McKinley Counties. McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputies and New Mexico State Police officers arrived on scene, and immediately began to assess the situation. The group had been travelling in a four-door suburban, phone calls to dispatch centers show that the car swerved suddenly on the road and caused a rollover. Callers informed dispatch that a woman, dressed like Grey, was seen leaving the driver’s seat.
As police began to question the situation, Grey informed investigators that she was not the driver. Instead, she told police that a different woman was driving and she ran away on foot. As medical response began to arrive, and a helicopter was on the way to transport John Doe 2 to a hospital where he could receive medical care, Grey then put the blame on John Doe 1, who was officially declared dead on the scene.
The helicopter landed, taking John Doe 2 to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque with “serious” injuries. A MedStar Ambulance arrived to take Grey to the Gallup Indian Medical Center, but before they could leave, an unharmed passenger in the vehicle told police that Grey was driving the suburban.
As Grey arrived at the hospital, police were securing a search warrant for Grey’s blood, which showed she was impaired, with a blood alcohol content of .16.
Both of the victims in this car accident and Grey were enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office stepped in to further investigate this case, and recommended the Department of Justice move forward with trial.
As part of a plea deal, Grey admitted that she was intoxicated while driving, resulting in the crash. Sentencing in this case has not yet been scheduled but Grey faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.