Man Charged with Reckless Driving Causing Death in Las Vegas
On Friday, a twenty-year old man driving a pickup was allegedly speeding and ran a red light near Lamb and the Strip. Witnesses reported to police that he struck another car, causing the death of its driver and passenger. After the pickup driver was released from the hospital, he was arrested for two felony counts of breaking Nevada reckless driving law causing death.
Any person who drives in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of people or property may be charged with breaking Nevada reckless driving law (NRS 484.348). As long as no one gets hurt or killed, it's a misdemeanor punishable by a fine between $250 and $1,000 or up to six months in jail. Subsequent offenses for breaking Nevada reckless driving law carry higher fines but still a maximum six months in jail.
If this alleged reckless driving causes death, it's chargeable as a category B felony, carrying one to six years in prison and a fine between $2,000 and $5,000. (Sentences may be increased if the accident took place in a work zone.) However, if it can be shown that the driver wasn't reckless but instead acted out of simple negligence, then the appropriate charge would be vehicular manslaughter, which is punishable as a misdemeanor.
