May trial for Fernley teen rollover death

A 17-year-old boy will stand trial in May for the Dec. 17 accident north of Fernley which left a 14-year-old boy dead.

Lori Plater, Washoe County district attorney in the juvenile division, said the 17-year-old will go to trial May 12 at 8:30 a.m. at the Jan Evans Center in Reno. Although charges have been filed, Plater could not list them until they are read in open court. The boy will not be charged as an adult, Plater said.

The 17-year-old was arrested the night of Dec. 17 following an accident on the Ceresola Flat north of Fernley in Washoe County. The Lyon County Sheriff's Department responded to a call of a vehicle rollover. When medics arrived on scene, they found one patient lying motionless in the dirt, five patients walking around the accident scene and another teen unaccounted for.

Deputy Brooke Keast, public information officer with the Washoe County Sheriff's Department, said the vehicle was stolen by the 17-year-old from his uncle in Fernley. The 17-year-old had a learner's permit and took the other six males four-wheeling with him. Two 14-year-old boys rode in the bed of the truck while five passengers rode in the cab. One of the 14-year-old boys was ejected and run over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Accident investigators said the driver admitted to using marijuana before the accident - a claim Plater will not confirm one way or another.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody the night of the accident, but was released Jan. 25 to a responsible adult. Juvenile trials are stipulated to take place within 60 days of the event, but can be waived in order to obtain necessary evidentiary documents. Plater said her office is still waiting on labs and toxicology reports.

Plater also said depending up what is found in the lab results, the case may be settled or go to a plea agreement.