STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Justice Court at Lake Tahoe was full Tuesday afternoon as the suspect in the March 20 fatal collision at Glenbrook appeared before Judge Michael Johnson.
The rows of the courtroom were filled by the family and friends of Brian Vasquez-Gonzalez, the 24-year-old victim in the March 20, 2025, fatal collision on US50. Brian was killed when a vehicle driven by 64-year-old Stephen Pawlowski went into the wrong lanes and collided with the car he was a passenger in. Law enforcement said impairment was a factor.
Pawlowski, a resident of Reno, has been in the Douglas County Jail since he was arrested after the crash. He appeared in court remotely with his lawyer, Alexandra Dyer, appearing in Johnson’s court.
Dyer said her client was raising funds to meet the previous bail of $500,000, and she objected to the request of Prosecutor Chelsea Mazza to double the bail. She said there was not enough evidence to warrant an increase and that her client could wear a device if released.
Mazza learned that Pawlowski was prohibited from drinking by Washoe County twice in the days before the fatal collision, March 17 and 18. She said the Nevada State Police – Highway Division (NHP) had pictures of Pawloski drinking in Washoe County.
“The toughest restrictions weren’t enough to prevent the death,” Mazza said of Washoe’s orders not stopping the suspect from consuming alcohol. She asked the judge for higher bail so he couldn’t get out of jail. She said the restrictions by Washoe County “didn’t save this community” and it has had a catastrophic impact.
Johnson set a $1 million cash bail or $2 million bond.
Brian was a South Tahoe High School graduate and a resident of Carson City at the time of his death. He was in the car with his partner Karla Rea, and their young daughter, Kataleya Vazquez Rea. Karla was driving, with their daughter in the back seat of their Subaru. Both of them were injured in the crash.
Pawlowski’s next court date will be a preliminary hearing on July 24 at 9 a.m.