LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Police witnessed the driver accused of killing a mother of four driving erratically and running a red light moments before he hit and killed the woman as she walked near the UNLV campus, according to police documents.
Gerardo Jose Lopez, 36, is facing charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving resulting in death.
The arrest report for Lopez stated that a Las Vegas Metropolitan police vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Twain Avenue and University Center Drive when they spotted a white Chevrolet driving erratically on the morning of Wednesday, March 5.
The vehicle traveled in the wrong direction on Twain, ran a red light at the intersection, and then made a wide-sweeping turn on University Center Drive, causing the vehicle to go up onto the sidewalk and hit 31-year-old Jessica Fodge, who was walking home after dropping her children off at school. Fodge died at the hospital.
Documents said Lopez failed sobriety tests given at the scene of the crash and his “eyes were bloodshot and watery and that he was speaking slowly.”
Lopez used crutches to balance and told police he suffered from a medical condition. Information on the condition was redacted in the arrest report. He did not admit to using illegal narcotics or alcohol but told officers he takes medication.
Lopez was arrested for suspected DUI and blood draws were performed at University Medical Center. The results were not available at the time the arrest report was released.
The entire crash was captured on a Las Vegas Metro police surveillance camera mounted in that area.
Lopez is being held on a $250,000 bail. His court case is scheduled for a status check on Tuesday, March 11.
