Arizona Man Sentenced for Causing Death of British Tourist in Crash near Grand Canyon

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
May 29, 2009

PHOENIX—Philbert Watahomigie, Jr., 40, of Peach Springs, Ariz., was sentenced here today by U.S. District Judge Earl H. Carroll to six years in federal prison. Watahomigie (pronounced Wah-ta-HOM-a-gee) was the driver of a vehicle which struck another vehicle near the Grand Canyon in November 2007. He pleaded guilty to two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter on March 12, 2009. When tested shortly after the crash, his blood alcohol content was .302, much higher than the Arizona legal limit of .08.

On November 6, 2007, Watahomigie was driving a vehicle on the Hualapai Indian Reservation near the Grand Canyon when he hit another vehicle from behind. In the vehicle he struck were two couples, tourists visiting from Great Britain, who were trying to find the Grand Canyon at the time. The driver of vehicle died instantly. The remaining passengers all suffered serious bodily injury. One passenger was flown to a local hospital where she died a short while later from her injuries.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Hualapai Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-644-PCT-EHC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-173(Watahomigie)