California man pleads guilty in DUI death of his daughter

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999 | 11:07 a.m.

A California construction worker has pleaded guilty to a felony drunken driving charge for a high-speed rollover accident that killed his 4-year-old daughter and traumatized witnesses.

Gary Dean Dillman faces a maximum sentence of eight to 20 years in prison for causing the Oct. 18 crash near Jean, 30 miles south of Las Vegas. Sentencing is set for Dec. 17 in the plea bargain that will result in an involuntary manslaughter charge being dismissed.

Dillman pleaded guilty Friday in District Judge Kathy Hardcastle's courtroom.

Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said Dillman apparently was racing back to Las Vegas at speeds estimated at more than 90 mph on Interstate 15 to return his daughter to his ex-wife.

As Dillman's rental car weaved in and out of traffic, it clipped another vehicle and began rolling in the desert, ejecting Vanessa Tapia through a window. The car then rolled over the child, inflicting the fatal injuries.

Booker said that although there was a child seat secured in the vehicle, the child was not strapped into it.

The veteran prosecutor said witnesses who had stopped to help at the crash scene told authorities how Dillman picked up the mortally injured girl, shook her and screamed at her to wake up.

The girl had to be removed almost by force from the frantic father before efforts could be made to save her life, Booker said.

He noted that some witnesses said they were traumatized by the incident.

One woman emotionally told the grand jury that indicted Dillman how she was holding Vanessa when the girl drew her last breath.

Booker said that Dillman's blood-alcohol level was tested at 0.24 percent -- more than twice the legal limit to prove drunken driving -- and residue of cocaine also was detected.

After Dillman was examined at a hospital and arrested he was allowed to make a telephone call. Booker said a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper overheard Dillman telling his mother, "They've got nothing on me, nobody saw me driving."

Dillman, who has been held in jail on $500,000 bail, finally admitted Friday they did.