NHP identifies truck and trailer owners in south Carson City fatal crash, more charges added
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 11/16/2021 - 10:40am
The Nevada Highway Patrol has identified the truck owner and trailer owner and has added more charges to the driver involved in the Nov. 9 multi-vehicle crash that killed a Dayton couple and injured several others at the junction of I-580, South Carson street and Highway 50.
The owners of the 2017 Ford F-350 truck are Xiomara Leyva and Alfredo Xiomara Leyva, both listed from Florida. The trailer owner, also out of Florida, is listed as Maria Cruz-Mirete, according to NHP.
No charges have been filed for the owners of the truck and trailer, which was hauling the boat from Lake Tahoe. NHP has not released the name of the boat owner. The matter remains under investigation.
The driver, Roney Gonzalez, of Hollywood, Florida, is being held at Carson City Jail. The charges have amended by NHP with additional charges added. Gonzalez is being charged with two felony counts of reckless driving resulting in death. He is also being charged with the following misdemeanor offenses: unsafe vehicle, obstruction of justice, failure to obey a traffic control device, failure to obey traffic light, inoperative/defective brakes, inspection/repair/maintenance, wheel fasteners loose or missing, required brakes missing on trailer, loose or unfastened tie-down, damaged vehicle structure and pressure points, no record of duty status, motor carrier permit required, no medical certificate, operating commercial vehicle without a commercial driver's license. Also, misdemeanor driver must be able to understand traffic signals, no fuel tax permit, IRO apportioned tagged/reg violation, no USDOT carrier named displayed and no commercial driver's license. He is being held at Carson City Jail with a $100,000 bondable bail.
A married couple from Dayton, 70-year-old Tana Powell, and Don Powell, 74, died as a result of injuries in the crash, according to the Washoe County Medical Examiner.
NHP says suspected brake failure is likely the cause of the fiery Nov. 9 crash at the intersection of I-580, South Carson Street and Highway 50, also known as Spooner Junction. Part of the brake failure was due to the weight load being carried, according to NHP. The truck and trailer weigh approximately 38,000 pounds.
