A Las Vegas mother is facing DUI, reckless-driving and child-abuse-or-neglect charges after her SUV overturned on Interstate 15 near Jean, killing her 7-year-old daughter. Rodriguez and her son suffered minor injuries.
The Nevada Highway Patrol said Natalie Muriel Rodriguez’s Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling north on I-15 between Jean and Sloan on Oct. 4 when it left the roadway and struck two construction barrels. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Rodriguez then overcorrected, lost control, hit a concrete wall and rolled over. Her daughter and son were in the back seat, police said.
Seven-year-old Aislinne Ramos died at the scene. Troopers found her in the roadway and Rodriguez holding her son near the median, the Review-Journal reported. Police said Aislinne was not wearing a seat belt. Rodriguez and her son were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
What Child-Restraint Safety Research Says
A KSNV report on child passenger safety said car seats significantly reduce the risk of fatal injuries. That general safety information does not establish what role restraint use played in this crash.
Police Report Says Rodriguez Disclosed Marijuana Vape Use
Rodriguez told troopers she had used a marijuana vape pen the day before the crash, according to the police report reviewed by the Review-Journal. She denied using drugs such as methamphetamine or cocaine and agreed to have her blood drawn at a hospital. The report reviewed by the newspaper did not include the test results.
The police report described Rodriguez as “oddly emotionless” during an interview at the scene, the Review-Journal reported. It also noted that she had California identification. The family had left Las Vegas before midnight Saturday for a round trip to Ontario, California.
A separate report from 8 News Now described the crash as happening early Sunday around 6:21 a.m., while the Review-Journal's account put the time at around 6:20 a.m. Either way, the wreck unfolded in the dark hours of the family's long drive back from California.
Rodriguez’s Earlier Speeding Case
Court records reviewed by the Review-Journal show Rodriguez was cited in May for driving 30 to 40 mph over the posted speed limit on the same stretch of road. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to traffic school.
The newspaper reported that Rodriguez failed to appear for a Sept. 23 status check in the speeding case. She is scheduled to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on Monday in that matter and in Goodsprings Justice Court on Tuesday in the fatal-crash case.
What Nevada Law Says About Drugged Driving
Nevada's DUI statutes, codified under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 484C, address driving under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance. The same chapter includes NRS 484C.130, which addresses vehicular homicide and an affirmative defense. Nevada law also provides for driver's-license revocation when testing shows a detectable amount of a controlled or prohibited substance in a driver's blood or urine.
