Charges to be filed against driver involved in deadly tanker crash in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The driver of a Prius involved in a deadly tanker crash on US50 near South Lake Tahoe will be charged with a single count of misdemeanor manslaughter.

On September 7, 2019, Daniel Noah Peterson, a 36-year-old from North Highlands, California, was driving a tanker truck filled with fuel when the driver of a Pruis pulled out in front of him at the intersection of US50 and Elks Club Drive. Peterson swerved to miss the car causing his truck to slide into the bridge on the Upper Truckee River before exploding.

Peterson died at the scene.

The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office will be arraigning 29-year-old John Alexander Kirkpatrick of Reno in South Lake Tahoe on January 10, 2020. Kirkpatrick will face a single count of misdemeanor manslaughter in violation of Penal Code 192(c)(2), negligence while driving.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Joe Alexander said they sent Kirkpatrick a letter, asking him to complete the booking process. If he hasn't done that before the arraignment in January the judge will order him to get booked.

The victim's father Dan Peterson said he will be in court that day to watch Kirkpatrick arraigned. It will be the first time he and his wife have been in South Lake Tahoe since the crash. They will visit the bridge where Daniel died. Peterson said they were sent a touching photo of a white cross with a wreath at the site.