The wrongful death lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs heard from a safety officer who described an "atmosphere" of drinking within the BIA.

Alfred Abeita, the safety chief for the BIA's Navajo region, was a witness for the family of a Nebraska couple killed by an ex-BIA employee who was drinking on the job. He testified that BIA higher-ups were lax in enforcing a safe driving policy.

Abeita said he struggled with his own alcoholism and is now sober. But "I wouldn't have been able to because of the atmosphere [of drinking]" at the BIA, he said, according to The Albuquerque Journal.

Abeita's testimony was used to establish grounds to introduce a survey of alcohol problems among BIA employees. But the judge ruled that the survey could not be admitted. A separate survey of Navajo region employees was also rejected.

Lloyd Larson was an employee of the Navajo region when he hit and killed two Nebraska couples. The family of one couple settled for $2 million. The second family is in court.

Get the Story:
BIA Navajo safety officer testifies about DWI policy (AP 4/14)
DWI Data Barred in BIA Case (The Albuquerque Journal 4/15)

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