Hearing delayed for man accused in relay runner’s death

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 | 11:01 a.m.

Joshua Salayich

Courtesy Ragnar Relay Series

Jeremy Kunz and his wife, Melinda, at the Ragnar Relay Las Vegas starting line.

Report: Relay runner’s partner saw fatal crash (10-15-2009)
Suspected drunk driver arrested in relay runner's death (10-11-2009)

The preliminary hearing has been delayed for a 25-year-old Henderson man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol last month and fatally striking a relay runner.

Joshua Salayich is charged with driving under the influence with death, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting an officer. He is in custody and appeared in court this morning for the hearing.

Justice of the Peace Stephen George rescheduled the hearing for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 25 at the request of Salayich’s attorney, Michael Van, who was out of the state.

Salayich allegedly was driving a Nissan eastbound on Horizon Ridge Parkway near Stephanie Street when he lost control of the vehicle on Oct. 10, police reports indicate. Investigators said his car went onto the shoulder of the road and struck 33-year-old Jeremy Kunz of Kamas, Utah.

Kunz died of several blunt force traumatic injuries during the collision, the coroner's office said. The death was officially ruled an accident.

Salayich, who suffered minor injuries, is accused of running from the car after striking Kunz. Officers caught him about half a mile from the scene and took him to the Henderson jail, reports said.

Kunz was one of about 2,400 people taking part in the 180-mile Ragnar Relay run from Valley of Fire State Park to Red Rock Resort.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By RyMan

11/4/09 at 3:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

Deal: drop leaving the scene and resisting and plead guilty to DUI with death. He gets life, parole in 20 and one man's life is over, one woman's life is forever impacted and one guy loses his freedom, and all because he was too stupid to not drive drunk.
It's just that easy folks, get drunk, wait, call a cab or get a sober friend to drive.
Or better yet, don't get drunk, go for a run, walk your dog, play with your kids, build something, whatever...
By mred

11/5/09 at 7:23 a.m.

Suggest removal

How do we know he was drunk? Because the police said so? They said that about Darling. I'll reserve judgement since the police lack credibility.