Man accused in crash that killed mother, son appears in court

By Cara McCoy

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 11:13 a.m.

The 20-year-old alleged driver of a pickup truck that ran a red light last week and fatally struck a vehicle carrying a mother and her teenage son appeared briefly this morning in justice court.

Nathan Hardy is facing two counts of felony reckless driving resulting in death in connection with the crash at 8:42 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Lamb and Las Vegas boulevards that left Maria DelCarmen Lewis, 45, and her son, Daniel Santos, a 17-year-old student at Canyon Springs High School, dead.

Arguments regarding Hardy’s bail will be heard Friday morning. He is currently being held with no bail.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Jansen set a preliminary hearing for Feb. 17, but prosecutors said the case might be presented to the grand jury for an indictment.

Hardy, whose vehicle was seen running red lights and weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed shortly before the wreck, reportedly told police he was on his way back from St. George, Utah, and was “just in a hurry to get home.”

Police said evidence and witness statements indicate that Lewis’ 2006 Toyota was southbound on Las Vegas Boulevard and entered the intersection on a green light. Police said Hardy’s 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup truck was southbound on Lamb when it entered the intersection on a red light, striking the passenger's side.

Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene; Santos died a short time later at University Medical Center. The Clark County Coroner’s office said Monday that Lewis died of a broken neck as a result of the collision.

Santos was taken to UMC, where he died of multiple traumatic injuries he suffered in the crash, the coroner’s office said.