NHP update on Incline Village New Year's Day fatal crash

Hug Soto-Barrios has been identified as the victim in the New Year's Day fatal accident on the Mt. Rose Hwy in Incline Village, NV. The 40-year old was a passenger in a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo driven by 34-year old Manuel Mejia-Verduzco.

Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers were called to the scene of the accident in which two vehicles collided about five miles east of Hwy 28. They say that for unknown reasons, Mejia-Verduzco allowed the SUV to drift across the center line where it struck a 2003 Jeep Liberty. 27 year old Irma Gouadarram was driving the Jeep with passengers 38-year old Anna Acosta and 45-year old Norea Maria Pelayo-Garcia.

Mr. Soto-Barrios was transported by helicopter to Renown with critical injuries and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Ms. Gouadarram was transported via ambulance to Renown with non-life threatening injuries and was released from the hospital the next morning. The two passengers of the jeep Ms. Acosta and Ms. Pelayo-Garcia were transported to Renown via helicopter with major injuries. Both are still in serious condition but are recovering from their injuries at Renown.

After the crash Mejia-Verduzco the driver of the Isuzu fled the accident scene on foot. The NHP Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) 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 on Mt. Rose Hwy.

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. He was transported to Renown for his injuries and after he was cleared from the hospital he was transported to the Washoe County Detention Center where he was booked on the charges of; Driving Left of Center, Hit and Run w/Death, Hit and Run w/Injury x3, Failure to give aid and information and driving with no valid driver's license.

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.