Two remain in critical condition following fatal crash

• A six-year-old girl and Candace Jim were airlifted from the scene while Aaron Yazzie and the nine-year-old girl were transported by ambulance.
• Jim is accused of nine charges including three first-degree felony counts.
• The odor of an alcoholic beverage on Yazzie and Jim were observed by a state police officer.

FARMINGTON — The driver and a six-year-old girl remain in critical condition following a fatal vehicle crash which occurred south of Bloomfield Saturday Morning.

A six-year-old boy was killed and four people were transported for injuries following a single-vehicle crash which occurred around 11:45 a.m. Saturday on County Road 7150 a half-mile west of U.S. Highway 550.

Candace Jim, 40, of Farmington, is accused of nine charges including a first-degree felony count of abuse of a child resulting in death and two first-degree felony counts abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm along with a third-degree felony count of great bodily harm by vehicle, according to her criminal complaint.

More:1 child dead, 4 people injured in crash south of Bloomfield

Aaron Yazzie, 45, of Bloomfield, is also accused of the same three first-degree felony counts and the third-degree felony count Jim is accused of, according to his criminal complaint.

A six-year-old girl and Jim were airlifted from the scene while Yazzie and the nine-year-old girl were transported by ambulance, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Jim remains in critical condition, Yazzie is listed as fair, the six-year-old girl was treated and transferred and the nine-year-old girl has been treated and released, according to San Juan Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Laura Werbner.

The six-year-old girl remains in critical condition, according to NMSP spokesman Ray Wilson.

The vehicle was traveling east on County Road 7150 approaching U.S. Highway 550 when it crossed into the westbound lane.

The driver overcorrected and the vehicle rolled, according to a New Mexico State Police press release.

The affidavit states Yazzie and the three children in the back seat of the vehicle were ejected.

One of the medics on scene told a New Mexico State Police officer the nine-year-old girl injured in the wreck told the medic a version of what allegedly occurred.

The medic stated the nine-year-old said the driver Jim and passenger in the front passenger seat Yazzie were arguing when Yazzie took control of the steering wheel and jerked the wheel, causing the vehicle to go off-road, according to the affidavit.

A NMSP Sergeant who also spoke to the nine-year-old girl was told Jim had fallen asleep and drove off the road.

A state police officer observed the smell of an alcoholic beverage from Jim while she was being treated for injuries in the vehicle.

He also detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage from Yazzie as he was being loaded into an ambulance.

More:One arrested following vehicle pursuit and crash

While searching the vehicle for Jim's license, the officer observed one partially empty bottle of vodka along with five unopened "shooters" of alcohol along with a bottle of hydrocodone prescribed to a "Candace Tsosie," according to court documents.

Search warrants were obtained and approved to get samples of Yazzie's and Jim's blood for a blood alcohol content exam.

Yazzie's blood was drawn but officers were unable to get a sample of Jim's blood because she was in surgery, according to court documents.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.