U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentence in Drunk Driving Case Involving Serious Injuries Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico Dateline: Albuquerque, New Mexico Date: 30 August 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: United States Numbered Highways

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to three years supervised probation for a drunk driving crash on Santa Ana Pueblo in 2021.  At sentencing, Lionel Medina, 29, an enrolled member of the Zia Pueblo, faced up to 10 years in prison.

According to court documents, on December 1, 2021, Santa Ana Police officers received a report of hit and run involving a white pickup truck on US 550. According to reports, the truck rear-ended an SUV in the eastbound lane before fleeing the scene. Minutes later, officers received a report of a head-on collision involving the same white pickup truck in the westbound lane near mile post 11.

At the scene of the head-on crash, law enforcement found a gray sedan and the white pickup truck, both with severe front-end damage. Medina was found barely conscious in the driver's seat of the truck, smelling of alcohol. Officers discovered multiple alcohol containers in the vehicle.  A blood test taken several hours after the crash revealed Medina's blood alcohol content was 0.22, almost three times the legal limit.

Jane Doe suffered extensive injuries, including multiple fractures to her spine, sternum, shoulder blade, upper arm, thigh bone, and heel.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department and Sandoval County Sheriff’s department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.

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Updated August 30, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-296