Two die in Incline Village vehicle pedestrian accident; Grass Valley man arrested

Two pedestrians were killed Friday night when they were struck by a pickup, shortly before 8 p.m. in Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports. The driver of the pickup, Christopher Torii Smith, 25, of Grass Valley, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence causing death. Names of the deceased have not been released.
An investigation shows the pair, a male and female, were struck in a crosswalk on State Route 28 and Village Boulevard. 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 black 2006 Chevrolet pickup, as they crossed paths in the southbound travel lane.
The male pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene and the female pedestrian succumbed to her injuries while en route to Renown. Troopers suspected drug use was involved in this collision and 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 bail on the booking sheet was $60,200. There were three other passengers in the pickup with Smith.

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.

Photo: Christopher Torii Smith / Provided by the Nevada Highway Patrol