Pedestrians Killed in Incline Village Identified as North Lake Tahoe couple

An Incline Village couple have been identified in the fatal pedestrian accident on Friday night at a crosswalk on State Route 28 in Incline Village. The Nevada Highway Patrol reports Robert C. Mathis and Linda Mathis, both 46 and husband and wife, died from injuries sustained in the accident. Family members have been notified.
NHP troopers were dispatched around 8 p.m. to the pedestrian-involved collision on State Route28 in Incline Village, just south of Village Boulevard. The details of the crash investigated so far indicate that a black 2006 Chevrolet pickup was traveling southbound on the two-lane highway driven by 25-year-old Christopher Torii Smith from Grass Valley, California, along with three other passengers, said Trooper Chuck Allen.
Crossing SR 28, from the east side of the roadway, were two pedestrians; one male and one female, both residents of Incline Village. Witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate the pedestrian were in or close to the painted crosswalk area when they were struck by the southbound pickup, as they crossed paths in the southbound travel lane, Allen said.

Robert C. Mathis was pronounced dead at the scene and the Linda Mathis succumbed to her injuries while en route to Renown Medical Center, Allen said.
Troopers suspected drug use was involved in this collision and Mr. Smith was arrested. He was booked at the Washoe County Jail on two counts of DUI causing death and failure to yield to a pedestrian. His total bail was listed at $60,200 and he was released from jail over the weekend.
The accident forced both directions of SR 28 to be closed for nearly four hours. At approximately 11:40 pm, the roadway was reopened and Nevada Department of Transportation personnel assisted our agency with the temporary traffic control duties.
Trooper Mike Stapledon of the Major Accident Investigation Team is the lead investigator for this horrific crash. Witnesses or anyone with additional information should contact him at (775) 689-4623 regarding case number NHP-111230851.