BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal One of the cars involved in an accident on Deer Run Road sits disabled on the side of the road Wednesday. The occupants of the Dodge Neon claim they were being chased by a white sedan that left the scene of the accident.
Police believe gang activity was involved in an accident on Deer Run Road that sent two teens to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
Sheriff's Deputy Sal Acosta said a group of teens in a gold Dodge Neon sedan reported they were chased from the Taco Bell at Highway 50 East and Airport Road by a white sedan of teens.
The Neon's occupants reported they'd lost the sedan and were northbound on Deer Run Road to get back onto Highway 50 and head back to their homes in Dayton.
Acosta said the sedan knew that the passengers in the Neon lived in Dayton, and so they guessed what route the Neon would take and were heading southbound on Deer Run Road when they spotted the sedan coming toward them.
"The car pulls over and the kids in the Neon said they didn't know if it was a gun or what, but someone from white car pointed something at them," said the deputy. He said when the Neon's driver Eric Lopez ducked, he lost control and drove into the path of a Ford Explorer at about 3:19 p.m.
Acosta said Lopez is on record with the Carson City Sheriff's Department as being a Lima Street gang member.
Acosta said the Explorer driver tried to avoid the Neon, and was nearly successfully, but the Neon's front passenger side slammed into the Explorer's rear passenger wheel well.
Acosta said after the accident the Neon passengers reported they ran away through a field from the scene for fear of being shot at by whomever was in the sedan.
He said no one in the Neon could identify any of the suspects in the sedan.
The white sedan and its occupants then left the scene.
Lopez and an unnamed 17-year-old passenger were both transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Two other passengers in the Neon were not injured.
The Neon was totaled. The unnamed driver of the Explorer was uninjured.
Acosta said Lopez will be cited for reckless driving.
Anyone with information is asked to call Acosta at the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.