Area man charged:
Depraved-mind murder
Police: Man caused crash that killed passengers

The remains of a vehicle wreck that claimed two lives is shown on Set. 2, 2007. Anthony Yazzie has been charged with depraved-mind first gegree murder in connection with the crash. [Courtesy Gallup Police Department]

By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff writer

GALLUP — Gallup Police reported that a man they have been trying to find since Sept. 2, 2007, surrendered Tuesday night after a three-day telephone dialogue with negotiators.

Deputy Chief John Allen said that Anthony Yazzie of Window Rock was arrested on a warrant of two counts of depraved-mind first-degree murder. On Sept. 2, 2007, at 8:30 p.m., a vehicle hit a pole at the northwest corner of Aztec Avenue and Will Street behind Earl’s Restaurant.

Dwayne Lee, 31, of Gallup and Travis Coulston, 17, of Gallup were pronounced dead at the scene by the local medical investigator.

Yazzie’s blood alcohol content after the accident was .10 and Allen said that the foursome had been drinking at a party at Red Hills Trailer Park before the wreck.

Allen said the vehicle was going 80 mph down the hill behind Earl’s just one second before he hit the pole, and the gas pedal was completely pressed to the floor and no brakes were applied.

Yazzie drove to Gallup Tuesday night from Albuquerque and surrendered to authorities. He is currently in the McKinley County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash-only bond.