A 27-year-old Carson City man crushed a woman between a house and his van Saturday night, sending her to the hospital for severe injuries, including broken bones and brain swelling.
Leonardo Cardoza allegedly tailgated the victim and her fiance starting on U.S. Highway 50 near Lompa Lane around 9:30 p.m. He continued to follow them onto Interstate 580, and then followed the couple to the woman's mother's house in the 3500 block of Cinnabar, according to Sheriff Ken Furlong.
When the woman exited her vehicle, Cardoza drove his van into her, crushing her between the house and his van. He then fled the scene and drove into and through a fence two blocks away, disabling his van. Cardoza then returned to the scene on foot and was confronted by the residents.-
The victim was flown to the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno for her injuries.
Cardoza was taken to the hospital in Reno and treated for his injuries and released into custody Sunday morning.
"It appears to be some type of road rage" incident, Furlong said. "He just did it. He attacked her with his car."
Alcohol appears to be a factor, although not a cause, of the attack, he said.
Cardoza is being held on charges of DUI, battery with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.
"It's really bizarre," Furlong said.
Anyone with information about the attack is encouraged to call the detectives division of the sheriff's office at-775-887-2500.