Truck driver facing DUI charges in triple-fatal wrong-way southern Nevada crash

David Charns
·1 min read
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A 29-year-old man was in custody Monday on charges of allegedly driving impaired on the wrong side of the road when his semi-truck collided with three motorcyclists, killing them, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Claude Rafiki was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges, including three counts of DUI resulting in death.

On Monday, officials from the Clark County coroner’s office identified two of the three victims in the crash on State Route 163 near U.S. 95 near Laughlin. Owen Hart, 22, of Saint George, Utah; and Jeremy Gebo, 44, were killed, with both causes of death listed as “multiple blunt force trauma.” A third victim was not identified as of Monday.

<em>Owen Hart’s family told 8 News Now that he had just turned 22 and was himself beginning a career as a trucker. He and his family were celebrating his birthday with the motorcycle ride, they said. (Melissa Hart)</em>
Owen Hart’s family told 8 News Now that he had just turned 22 and was himself beginning a career as a trucker. He and his family were celebrating his birthday with the motorcycle ride, they said. (Melissa Hart)

Rafiki’s charges indicate police believe he was driving on the wrong side of State Route 163 at the time of the crash.

Owen Hart’s family told 8 News Now that he had just turned 22 and was himself beginning a career as a trucker. He and his family were celebrating his birthday with the motorcycle ride, they said.

Melissa Hart, Owen Hart’s mother, said the truck rounded a corner and crashed into her son and another rider.

“Heartbreaking, heartwrenching, just devastating,” Melissa Hart, said Monday. “My husband and I will never recover from that. We will always remember that.”

<em>On Monday, officials from the Clark County coroner’s office identified two of the three victims in the crash on State Route 163 near U.S. 95 near Laughlin. Owen Hart, 22, of Saint George, Utah; and Jeremy Gebo, 44, were killed, with both causes of death listed as “multiple blunt force trauma.” (KLAS)</em>
On Monday, officials from the Clark County coroner’s office identified two of the three victims in the crash on State Route 163 near U.S. 95 near Laughlin. Owen Hart, 22, of Saint George, Utah; and Jeremy Gebo, 44, were killed, with both causes of death listed as “multiple blunt force trauma.” (KLAS)

Rafiki’s first court appearance Monday was delayed until Tuesday, records said.

The crash happened around 2:40 p.m. on Saturday, closing the road for several hours.

Nevada State Police declined to identify Rafiki on Monday, citing the ongoing investigation. It was unclear Monday the circumstances surrounding the crash and why Rafiki was driving the truck.

A booking photo for Rafiki was not immediately available.

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