On December 10th the cycling community suffered a huge loss. On what should have been a fun day with friends enjoying a 135-mile ride, a tragedy occurred when a driver in a box truck hit a group of cyclists as they rode about 60 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada on Highway US 95 south.
The impact of the box truck took the lives of five cyclists including Erin Ray, Michael Murray, Gerrard Nieva, Aksoy Ahmet, and Tom Trauger.
After an investigation of the crash, by NHP, the driver Jordan Barson who is from Arizona was charged with a DUI and found to have methamphetamine in his system.
Bodycam coverage from the Nevada Highway Patrol shows the distraught driver, Jordan Barson, being questioned after he hit and killed the cyclists. Barson stated he believed he fell asleep at the wheel. During the Field Sobriety Test in the bodycam video, it is clear that he could not walk a straight line and appeared impaired.
According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, Jordan Alexander Barson stands charged with five counts of DUI resulting in death, six counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm and one count of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm.
Barson was being held in custody at the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, pending a court appearance there and extradition to Nevada, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.
The charges he faces could put him in state prison for decades. Court and jail records do not show that Barson has an attorney.
Join the Virtual Ride In Support
Saturday, December 19th
7:00 AM PST – 3R Steady Ride – In memory of Nipton Loop Cyclists
This is a 3R Group Ride Event in memory of Nipton Loop Cyclists who recently passed away due to a tragic accident. The 3R ride leader Michael “Chikken” Anderson is organizing a fundraising page to gather funds for the deceased cyclist’s families.
Donate
Donations are being accepted to help ease the financial burden of the victim’s families.
