Sandoval: Accident 'traumatic'
Chief of Staff grieves after hitting, killing pedestrian

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

Patrick Sandoval, Navajo Nation chief of staff, shown in this file photo, said a recent accident that left a pedestrian dead, was very traumatic. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me," he said. [Independent File Photo]

GALLUP — Patrick Sandoval, chief of staff for the Navajo Nation, was the driver of a 2007 GMC Yukon tribal vehicle that struck Gary Murphy, who died a week later from injuries sustained in the accident.

Murphy was the subject of "Gary and the Angels," a documentary film on fetal alcohol syndrome. His face adorned local billboards in the area warning commuters of the lasting effects of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Detective Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, confirmed Friday afternoon that 42-year-old Sandoval, who is from Ganado, was traveling southbound at the intersection of Maloney Avenue and U.S. Hwy 491, when he struck Murphy.

According to the police report, Sandoval noticed a vehicle in the center lane that had stopped. Sandoval then saw Murphy in the road. He quickly swerved to the left and hit an orange construction barrel, in an attempt to avoid hitting Murphy, but struck the pedestrian anyway. He was traveling alone, on his way to a meeting when the accident occurred.

"Its was a traumatic experience," said Sandoval, Friday afternoon in a brief phone interview. "Nothing like that has ever happened to me."

Sandoval was not cited, nor arrested, since Toadlena-Pablo said witnesses told police officers that it was not the driver's fault. Murphy allegedly walked into oncoming traffic during rush hour despite a red pedestrian crossing light that warned him not to walk.

Toadlena-Pablo said the airbags in the tribal vehicle did not deploy, and Sandoval suffered no injuries. No major damage was done to the vehicle, Toadlena-Pablo said. The report states Sandoval was traveling at the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour when he struck Murphy.

Murphy was still conscious after he was hit, but not moving. Officers reported that he said, "I have a crack in my leg." As a result of the accident, Murphy broke a leg, and several ribs.

Murphy was died a week later on Monday, Feb. 12 by the Maricopa County Coroner's Office from injuries he sustained in the accident. Reports indicate that Murphy may have suffered from a brain hemorrhage while receiving medical treatment.

Toadlena-Pablo said he was never questioned as to why he walked into oncoming traffic, since he was transported to GIMC immediately, and then flown to a Phoenix hospital.

"It's very unfortunate," said Sandoval.

Sandoval said he was could not further comment under instruction by the Navajo Nation's Risk Management Department.

Margo Manaraze-Wagner, Murphy's friend who produced a documentary about his life, is planning to host a public memorial service in the near future to remember Murphy.

"He was the sweetest, most innocent friend to me," Manaraze-Wagner said. "...He really gave a lot. He let his story be told."