Victim identified in fatal New Year's crash on Mt. Rose Highway; driver faces felony charges
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 01/06/2015 - 11:11am
The Nevada Highway Patrol has identified the passenger who died in a New Year's Day crash on Mt. Rose Highway east of Incline Village in which the driver fled and was later found hiding.
Hugo Soto-Barrios, 40, died in the crash involving a silver Isuzu Rodeo driven by Manuel Mejia-Verduzco of Incline Village and a 2003 Jeep Liberty with three occupants. Soto-Barrios was flown to Renown Medical Center in Reno where he died, said NHP Trooper David Gibson.
Isuzu driver Mejia-Verduzco fled the scene of the accident and was found hiding in a bathroom with a broken arm and leg. He was taken to Renown Medical Center for his injuries and after he was cleared from the hospital he was transported to the Washoe County jail where he was booked on felony and misdemeanor charges including suspicion of driving left of center, hit and run causing death, three counts hit and run with injuries, failure to give aid and information and not having a valid driver's license.
The 27-year-old female driver of the Jeep was treated and released from the hospital. Two female passengers of the Jeep, ages 38 and 45, were flown via CareFlight with major injuries. Both are still in serious condition and are recovering at Renown, said Gibson.
The crash investigation indicates the 1998 silver Isuzu Rodeo driven Mejia-Verduzco with passenger Soto-Barrios was traveling westbound on Mt. Rose Highway when, for unknown reasons, Mejia-Verduzco allowed the Isuzu SUV to cross over the center line where it struck the blue 2003 Jeep Liberty that was traveling eastbound, said Gibson.
After the crash, driver Mejia-Verduzco fled the accident scene on foot. The NHP Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team used eyewitness accounts and information from other sources to find the identity and address of Mejia-Verduzco who was seen with Mr. Soto-Barrios during the day shortly before the accident, said Gibson.
When the two NHP investigators Troopers Hildebrand and Garretson arrived at Mr. Mejia-Verduzco’s apartment they found him hiding in the bathroom suffering from a broken left arm and broken left leg.
Trooper Karen Garretson of the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) is investigating this incident. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to reach out to her at (775) 689-4625 or kgarretson@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-150100100.
