Truck driver’s medical clearance expired day after triple-fatal crash outside Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The man who killed three motorcyclists while driving on the wrong side of the road earlier this year could get probation as part of a plea deal, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
Claude Rafiki, 29, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless driving resulting in death. The crash took place on March 23 on State Route 163 near Laughlin. Rafiki originally faced DUI charges, which prosecutors later dropped as test results did not show alcohol or drugs in his system.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors could argue for Clark County District Court Judge Joe Hardy to sentence Rafiki to a minimum of four to a maximum of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is always at a judge’s discretion, but most judges go along with a negotiated sentence. In this case, since prosecutors can argue for the sentence, but the prison term is not part of the deal, sentencing will be solely up to Hardy.
The crash killed Owen Hart, 22; Athena Faye Taylor, 21; and Jeremy Gebo, 44; all of St. George, Utah, according to the coroner’s office.
Rafiki was driving in the No. 1 travel lane – the one closest to the centerline – and not in the No. 2 lane as required for semis, a Nevada State Police Highway Patrol trooper told a grand jury. Rafiki then drove on the wrong side of the road for 25 seconds, documents said.
Rafiki told police the “wind” caused him to go the wrong way, documents said. He said he was not impaired and took medicine for seizures, documents said. A trooper testified “there was definitely wind” at the time he arrived at the crash scene.
Nevada law stipulates a person convicted of reckless driving resulting in death could serve a prison sentence between one to six years per count. The felony is probationable.
As part of Rafiki’s plea deal, he would serve the sentence concurrently, meaning it is unlikely Hardy would sentence him to more than 10 years of total time if he chooses prison time over probation.
Rafiki had a valid commercial driver’s license out of Michigan at the time of the crash, but his two-year medical certification was due to expire March 24 — the day after the crash, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Drivers in Michigan are required to submit an updated medical clearance before the expiration date, officials with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office confirmed. Because he did not submit updated medical certificate information, Rafiki’s license was downgraded and his CDL has not been valid as of March 24.
In response to the 8 News Now Investigators’ reporting in May about Rafiki’s license, several truck drivers responded saying Rafiki could have obtained an updated medical clearance at a Nevada truck stop and did not necessarily have to return to Michigan. However, it was unclear it was feasible since Rafiki was on seizure medication.
State police never released any information about why they believed Rafiki was impaired other than what was in the documents.
Rafiki remained in custody Friday on $500,000 bail. His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 7.
