A regional official for the Bureau of Indian Affairs testified on Tuesday that she can't define a "safe driving record" despite being responsible for ensuring that employees could operate a vehicle safely.

Elouise Chicharello, the director of the BIA's Navajo region, said she was never given a standard by which to judge employees who operate government vehicles. She said she relied on subordinates to ensure that employees had a safe driving record.

Lloyd Larson was an employee of the Navajo region when he rammed into a car carrying two Nebraska couples, killing them. He had been drinking on the job.

The family of one of the couples brought a wrongful death suit against the BIA. The family's lawyer said the agency looked the other way despite knowing some employees had unsafe driving records.

The family of the second couple settled their suit for $2 million.

The trial began yesterday. It is taking place in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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