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Fatal Las Vegas DUI Accident from 2009 Leads to Serious Charges

Friday, 25 June 2010 10:03

The case centers on a fatal Las Vegas DUI accident that took place on June 29 of 2009 when the driver - and now the defendant - Charley A. Matanza, 51, of Las Vegas, allegedly drove his GMC Suburban truck onto a sidewalk on Desert Inn Road just west of South Sandhill Road.  Tragically, a man riding his mountain bike, Gary John Lommason, 43, of Las Vegas was struck from behind by the vehicle and dragged underneath for a short distance. Lommason was a a retired Army sergeant and was pronounced dead later that day.

As of now, Mr. Mantanza is facing serious criminal charges including driving under the influence of drugs causing death and two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.  If convicted of these charges, the defendant could face up to 20 years in prison.  

Nevada Car Accident Statistics

Tragically, this case is one that was entered into the troubling body of statistics regarding fatal Nevada DUI accidents.  Every year, approximately 400 people overall are killed in Nevada car accidents, and for many years, approximately one-third of those who are killed suffered their fate in an accident in which alcohol or other intoxicants were listed as relevant factors in what led to the crash.  

Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyers

It's unknown whether the family of the man who was killed has taken other action beyond this prosecution.  It is possible that they could file a Nevada wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, and if the case was successful it could award damages for medical, funeral and burial expenses as well as lost income and loss of companionship among other types of damages.  However, these determinations should only be made with the help of Las Vegas wrongful death lawyers who have years of experience in standing up and fighting for the rights of grieving families.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.