Driver involved in deadly Carson City crash jailed on multiple charges

CARSON CITY, Nev. - The 24-year-old driver involved in a deadly multi-vehicle crash Tuesday at the bottom of Spooner Summit on US50 has been booked on multiple charges, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP).

Rolando Gonzalez Otazo Roney, 24, of Hollywood, Florida, is being held at Carson City Jail. He was arrested by the Nevada Highway Patrol for suspicion of reckless driving resulting in death, a felony, and other charges including driving without a valid driver's license, operating an unsafe vehicle, obstructing, and failure to obey a traffic control device, all misdemeanor offenses. The bail amount is $20,000. Other charges are pending.

On November 9, 2021, at approximately 12:46 p.m., NHP troopers responded to a multiple vehicle injury crash at the intersection of US50, South Carson Street, and I-580.

The crash investigation is still ongoing, but NHP released more details Wednesday.

Investigators believe a white 2017 Ford F350 pickup towing a large boat was traveling east on US-50 when it failed to stop at a red traffic light with South Carson Street. The Ford’s brakes are suspected to have overheated, contributing to the crash.

The Ford struck another vehicle, causing a series of other collisions. In total, 11 people involved in the crash were injured, two of which succumbed to their injuries. The remaining nine injured individuals (three of whom were in critical condition after the crash) are expected to recover.

The 38,000-pound, 44-foot boat had been loaded onto a five-axle trailer at the Tahoe Keys Marina earlier in the day, witnesses said. The owner of the boat hired a boat transport company to move the boat out of Lake Tahoe for the winter.