LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas District Attorney Steve Wolfson and Sheriff Joseph Lombardo are announcing plans to file 2nd degree murder charges in two separate DUI crashes that resulted in death at a press conference Wednesday.
The Clark County DA and Sheriff have announced second degree murder charges towards to suspected DUI drivers involved in deadly crashes in recent weeks. DA says charges were filed due to extraordinary circumstances and want to send clear message: No drinking and driving. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/r0zZpHL9oN
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKTNV) November 13, 2019
Kevin Raspperry is accused of calling a multi-vehicle crash on Oct. 27 that resulted in the death of one person and critical injuries to another. Other people also receive non-life-threatening injuries. Charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance were also added to the criminal complaint today. The original criminal complaint charged four counts each of DUI Resulting in Death or Substantial Bodily Harm and Reckless Driving Resulting in Death or Substantial Bodily Harm.
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Rasppery's blood alcohol level after the crash was .205. The legal limit is .08. He also tested positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana. Raspperry has two prior DUI convictions in Clark County since 2012, which demonstrates his total disregard for the law.
In a separate case today, Aaron Kruse was charged with 2nd Degree Murder With Use of a Deadly Weapon, Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death, Reckless Driving, and Killing, Maim or Disfigure Animal of Another.
These charges stem from a Nov. 9 crash where Mr. Kruse, traveling at over 115 miles per hour, crashed his Ford Mustang into the back of a Toyota. The Toyota was pushed onto a curb where the impact caused a spark that ignited its gas tank, which caused an explosion that engulfed the Toyota in flames. Two people and a dog were trapped inside and perished in the fire. Identity of one victim (Norma Rosario Ortiz) was released today, and the identity of the other victim is pending notification from the Clark County Coroner.
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Mr. Kruse’s blood alcohol level after the crash was .202. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 26, 2019. Kruse is currently in custody and his bail was set by a judge at $250,000.
