Man sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in a DUI crash that killed a mother and her unborn child

A Pocatello, Idaho man was sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for involuntary manslaughter. The court ordered the defendant to pay $48,765.76 in restitution for funeral costs and medical bills.

According to court documents, on November 8, 2024, a head-on collision occurred near Ethete, Wyoming, on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Damion Loneman Jr., 21, was driving southbound on the Blue-Sky Highway and attempting to pass another vehicle when he entered the northbound lane and collided with a vehicle driven by a man who was traveling with his pregnant fiancée, and their young child.

The crash, caused by the defendant's unsafe passing and speeding, resulted in severe injuries. The woman was critically injured and later died along with her unborn child. The young child suffered a serious head injury, and the father sustained a fractured ankle.

Witnesses confirmed the dangerous passing maneuver. Investigators found no vehicle defects and attributed the crash to human error. The defendant admitted to drinking before driving, and blood tests indicated his BAC at the time of the crash was likely between 0.085 and 0.15.

"This was a senseless crime resulting in the loss of life of a beloved fiancée and mother and her unborn child. Let this be a reminder that drinking and driving impairs safe operation of a vehicle, reducing reaction time and coordination, leading to a much higher risk of fatal accidents, said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "The physical and emotional pain the victims endured is unimaginable."

Loneman was indicted on Nov. 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2026. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the crime. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 2 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00107