FBI takes custody of man linked to Kayenta parade crash

Federal agents on Jan. 13 took custody of a man linked to a December vehicle crash that struck bystanders waiting for the Kayenta Christmas Night Parade, escalating an investigation that began as a local traffic incident into a federal inquiry. The move followed an initial arrest and detention at the Navajo Department of Corrections in Kayenta.

The crash occurred Dec. 22 at about 5:10 p.m. in Kayenta, Ariz., when an alleged intoxicated driver entered the parade route while residents waited for the event to start. Kayenta police confirmed four people were struck and that several vehicles and property were damaged. A person reportedly died after sustaining injuries during the incident.

Authorities initially arrested the driver and transported the individual to the local Department of Corrections. On Jan. 13, agents from the FBI’s Flagstaff office arrested Stanley Begay Jr. at the Navajo Department of Corrections Kayenta facility and took him into federal custody in connection with the fatal vehicle crash. The FBI has asked anyone with images, video, or other media of the incident to submit material through its tip portal for the Kayenta parade crash as part of the ongoing investigation.

The shift from tribal and local custody to federal control underscores the multi-jurisdictional complexities that arise when serious crimes occur on Navajo Nation land. Navajo Nation Police, local Kayenta officers, Navajo corrections officials and the FBI are now coordinating investigative and evidentiary efforts. For residents of McKinley County and neighboring communities who routinely travel the Gallup-Kayenta corridor or attend events on both sides of the state line, the case highlights how law enforcement agencies must work across tribal, state and federal lines when incidents cause severe injury or death.

Local implications include renewed scrutiny of public safety at community events and the procedures used by organizers and law enforcement to secure parade routes. Families and visitors who were present that night or who have footage from nearby streets are being encouraged to provide that material to federal investigators to help establish a full record of what happened.

The case remains under active investigation. Authorities have not released additional details about potential charges since the transfer to federal custody. For McKinley County residents, the arrest represents an important step toward accountability while also prompting conversations about emergency response, public event safety and coordination among tribal, county and federal agencies. Expect officials to provide further updates as the FBI reviews incoming evidence and moves forward with the investigation.