Pine Ridge woman sentenced for involuntary manslaughter after deadly crash

PINE RIDGE, S.D. - A Pine Ridge, South Dakota woman has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a deadly crash in 2022.

Janine Faye Good Lance, 45, was sentenced to two concurrent five-year terms in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

On Nov. 18, 2022 Good Lance was driving while intoxicated on BIA Highway 18 near Pine Ridge. She drove off the road, the car rolled several times, and the two passengers in the car were killed. Good Lance, who was wearing a seatbelt, was the only survivor.

During the trial, Good Lance claimed that her front-seat passenger grabbed the steering wheel unexpectedly, causing the car to lose control. However, testimony from troopers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Highway Safety, supported by crash reconstruction and vehicle “black box” data, disproved her claim.

Good Lance had a history of six prior Tribal arrests for driving under the influence, along with two DUI convictions in state court.