Driver pleads guilty in bus stop crash that killed four people

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Friday, Aug. 23, 2013 | 2:11 p.m.

Updated Friday, Aug. 23, 2013 | 3:49 p.m.

The driver in a horrific 2012 accident in which a car ran into a Las Vegas bus stop and killed four people has pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving causing death.

Gary Lee Hosey Jr. entered the plea this morning in Clark County District Court. Judge Jennifer Togliatti accepted the plea and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Nov. 1.

Hosey lost control of his Chevrolet Monte Carlo on the morning of Sept. 13 and crashed into a bus stop at Spring Mountain Road east of Decatur Boulevard.

Four people waiting at the stop were killed: Gerber Ayala-Tomasino Jr., 24; Johnni Garner, 49; Margoth Gonzalez, 65; and Hyon Cooley, 47. Hosey, four passengers in his car and three other people at the bus stop were also injured, including one person who was paralyzed and one who suffered permanent brain damage, according to Deputy District Attorney Brian Rutledge.

Hosey pleaded guilty to five counts of driving under the influence and causing death or substantial physical harm, Rutledge said. His sentence can be between 24 and 80 years.

“The carnage was extensive in this case,” Rutledge said. “We feel it’s a fair (agreement) under the circumstances and he’s taken responsibility for his actions. … He obviously didn’t intend to kill and permanently disable people, but he did intend to drink, and he intended to smoke marijuana, and then he made the decision to drive.”

Hosey’s public defender did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

A criminal complaint alleges Hosey’s blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit of 0.08 percent, based on blood samples taken within two hours of the wreck. In addition, the complaint alleges Hosey had more marijuana in his blood than the law allows. Defense attorneys had the blood retested, and it showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.06 percent, below the legal limit, and marijuana levels above the legal limit.

Rutledge said the slight drop in blood alcohol level is “not inconsistent” with the original test results because fluctuations are expected when samples are tested after significant time passes.

“When you combine alcohol and marijuana, the effects are multiplicative,” Rutledge said. “It’s much worse than twice as bad because of the way two substances interact. You are greatly impaired if you mix marijuana and alcohol.”

Hosey is in custody at Clark County Detention Center, and his bail has been set at $4 million.

• Check back later for updates to this story at lasvegassun.com.