Man pleads guilty in DUI-related death of bicyclist

Created on July 23, 2010

According to the Las Vegas Sun, a Las Vegas man pleaded guilty to being under the influence of drugs when he lost control of his SUV last summer and killed a man on his bike. Police say Charley A. Matanza, 51, failed a field sobriety test. In his plea agreement, Matanza admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine, marijuana and/or alprazolam at the time he was driving.

According to the article, Matanza's SUV was westbound on Desert Inn Road on June 29, 2009, when it ran up onto the north sidewalk and hit Gary John Lommason, 43, of Las Vegas. The SUV continued traveling on the sidewalk for a short distance, with Lommason and his bike trapped beneath it.

Lammason, a retired Army sergeant, had worked for 15 years on the security team at Boulder Station. Our condolences and thoughts go out to his family.

Often, drunk drivers strike other vehicles and cause innocent people to suffer back injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and even fatal injuries. We can help you get the compensation you deserve. If you were hurt by a drunk driver, call my office at 702-240-0000, text us at 24-0000, or go to www.edbernstein.com.

-Ed Bernstein

 


Man pleads guilty in DUI-related death of bicyclist

By Dave Toplikar
Thursday, July 22, 2010 | 5:04 p.m.

A Las Vegas man charged with being under the influence of drugs at the time he lost control of his SUV and ran over and killed a bicyclist last summer, will be sentenced next month in Clark County District Court.

Charley A. Matanza, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of driving under the influence of controlled substances, causing death and/or substantial bodily harm, at his felony arraignment before Arraignment Court Hearing Master Melisa de la Garza.

Matanza was charged in the 2009 death of Gary John Lommason, 43, of Las Vegas. Lammason, a retired Army sergeant, had worked for 15 years on the security team at Boulder Station.

Two other charges, both for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, were dismissed.

De la Garza set sentencing for 9 a.m. Sept. 27 in district court before District Judge Jennifer Togliatti. The charge carries a possible sentence of between five and 15 years.

Matanza is awaiting sentencing in the Clark County Detention Center.

According to Metro Police, Matanza's 1990 GMC SUV was westbound on Desert Inn Road on June 29, 2009, when it ran up onto the north sidewalk, striking the rear of Lommason's bicycle. The GMC continued traveling on the sidewalk for a short distance, with the bicyclist trapped beneath it, police said.

Matanza failed a field sobriety test, police said. Neither Matanza, nor his passenger, 57-year-old Ramon Matanza, Las Vegas, were injured in the collision, police said.

In his plea agreement, Matanza admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine, marijuana and/or alprazolam at the time he was driving.

 Find article at: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jul/22/man-pleads-guilty-dui-/