Fruitland Man Pleads Guilty in Shiprock Crash, Baby Killed
A Fruitland man pleaded guilty on November 13 to involuntary manslaughter in a crash that killed a 16 month old child near Shiprock. The case underscores federal and tribal law enforcement collaboration and raises local concerns about impaired driving, roadway safety, and child passenger protection.
Dewayne Earl Blackie, 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and Fruitland resident, pleaded guilty on November 13, 2025 to involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on April 3, 2024 near Shiprock, New Mexico. Court documents say Blackie was driving on a two lane highway when his vehicle collided with two other cars that were pulled over on the right side of the road. A 16 month old child was ejected from his vehicle and died from blunt force injuries.
According to the filings, methamphetamines and marijuana were found in Blackie’s system after the wreck. The plea was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI investigated the crash with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Blackie faces a possible sentence of up to eight years in prison and up to three years of supervised release following any term of incarceration. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The U.S. Attorney’s Office posted the press release about the plea on November 13 after the end of the federal government shutdown.
The case carries local significance beyond the criminal sentence. The death of a young child in a traffic crash draws attention to impaired driving linked to illegal substances, and to safety on rural two lane roads that are common throughout San Juan County. Community leaders and traffic safety advocates may press for expanded public education, enforcement of impaired driving laws, and outreach about child passenger safety following the fatality.
The involvement of federal and tribal investigators highlights the cooperative roles of multiple agencies when serious crimes occur in and near tribal communities. As the county awaits sentencing, residents and officials face the longer term policy questions prompted by the crash, including prevention strategies to reduce similar tragedies on county roads.