Hit-and-run victim's family seeks answers

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

NEWCOMB — Shawn Henderson would have been the one to make sure his mom had flowers on Mother's Day.

Henderson, 19, of Newcomb, would have organized the party for his mom and would have made sure she was happy with the flowers and honor that was hers on such a day.

But the flowers and respect that Henderson constantly gave to his mother won't be present this Mother's Day due to a hit-and-run accident that took Henderson's life on May 4 on Highway 64 just west of Hogback.

"This Mother's Day is going to be hard on us," said Meranda Lomayaktewa, Henderson's cousin. "I feel for my aunt and I don't know how we'll get through this. It will be tough since Shawn would have been the one to buy flowers for his mom."

The incident occurred when Henderson's car stalled on Highway 64 and he was pushing it to the side of the road. According to police reports, Henderson was pushing his car when a light colored mini-truck hit Henderson and continued driving towards Kirtland.

"We don't know who this person is that hit him but they have to have a conscience," said Lomayaktewa. "At least now they can step forward and take responsibility. We don't understand how somebody could run over a person and not stop."

For Henderson's family, the accident ended the life of a son and relative that was always looking for opportunities to help those around him.

"He was always outgoing and he had a lot of plans for the future," said Lomayaktewa. "He was always helpful, even taking care of his grandma before she passed away and he was always helping others first and thinking of himself last."

Among Henderson's plans were to move to Farmington, get a good job and continue to support his mother.

Those plans ended when the drivers of the truck hit Henderson at a high rate of speed and left enough debris at the scene of the accident to tell police that the vehicle had sustained significant front-end damage to the grill and light encasements.

Police and the San Juan County Crime Stoppers have requested that anyone with information concerning the truck that hit Henderson step forward to help police locate the driver.

"We want someone to come forward and let the police know," said Lomayaktewa. "The truth will set you free. I know that someone is out there and their conscience is bugging them."

Henderson's family will be busy on Mother's Day but their time will be spent preparing for Henderson's funeral instead of celebrating the way the rest of the nation will be.

"We'll pull through but it's going to be the hardest day of all," said Lomayaktewa. "Not knowing who this person that hit him is and wondering if they even have a heart is very hard. I would ask that person to please come forward and give us closure. "

Any with information concerning the light colored, or white, mini-truck that hit Henderson should contact the Ship rock Criminal Investigations Section at (505) 368-1300 or contact the San Juan County Crime Stoppers at (800) 924-5798.

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email brianhassler@hotmail.com