Pedestrian and hypothermia deaths among Native Americans in New Mexico: between bar and home

Native Americans who travel long distances on foot to obtain alcohol may be at risk for accidental death from in pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes or hypothermia. A study of New Mexico residents who died from accidental injuries over a nine-year period found that Native Americans were eight times more likely to die in pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes, and 30 times more likely to die from hypothermia than other residents. Of 1,585 Native Americans who died from accidental injuries, 347 died from pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes, and 166 died from hypothermia. Ninety percent of Native Americans who died in pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes or from hypothermia and were tested for blood alcohol levels were highly intoxicated. Sixty-seven percent of pedestrian or hypothermic deaths occurred outside the reservation. The sale of alcohol is illegal on many reservations so Native Americans must travel long distances to buy alcohol.