Lt. Governor Linda Diaz of Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico testified in her hit and run trial on Thursday.

Diaz, 52, repeatedly denied knowing that she struck someone with her car along a highway on the reservation. She said she was "scared" that she might have hit something but conversations with her sister and her son led her to believe nothing happened.

Diaz eventually called tribal police more than a day after the incident in the early morning hours of April 4, 2009, after seeing news coverage about the victim. She denied claims by the prosecutor that she waited so long because she had been drinking with friends and relatives the night before.

Phillip Espinoza, 31, was killed as he was walking along the busy highway. He was an employee of the casino owned by Santa Clara Pueblo. He was not Indian.

Diaz is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failing to render aid. Closing arguments are taking place today.

Get the Story:
Pojoaque Pueblo lieutenant governor Diaz: 'I didn't see anything' (The Santa Fe New Mexican 2/19)
Diaz Testifies at Her Trial (The Albuquerque Journal 2/19)

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