Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Man facing felonies in reckless driving case

The Las Vegas man authorities say caused a rock to fly through the windshield of a woman's car, killing her, will face felony charges in District Court.

An indictment unsealed Wednesday before District Judge Valerie Adair charges Robert Allan Rink Jr., 32, with one count each of reckless driving, involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and destroying evidence in the July 11 incident that killed 31-year-old Michelle Rogers.

Authorities say Rink was driving his BMW over 90 mph on the Las Vegas Beltway near Charleston Boulevard when his car kicked up the rock that flew through the windshield of Rogers' Volkswagen Passat. The rock hit Rogers in the head.

"One of the rocks went right through the driver's side window like a bullet," Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said.

There was no indication that Rink was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Booker said.

But according to prosecutors, what began as a freak accident became even more of a mystery as Rogers left the scene and was seen transferring boxes out of his car with an unidentified accomplice a short time later.

The BMW was found burned in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Beltway and Industrial Road. It is unclear who set the car on fire and why, Booker said.

After hearing those facts, Adair issued a warrant for Rink's arrest, with bail pending at $1 million. A trial date has not been set.

Rink's attorney, Ross Goodman, said he thought the bail was excessive. He said following the incident Rink had surrendered himself to authorities and had posted $30,000 bail on charges of reckless driving, leaving the scene and destroying evidence.

The only charge added in the indictment is the involuntary manslaughter charge, which normally carries a $3,000 bail, Goodman said.

"I'm disappointed that bail was set at $1 million given the fact that he voluntarily surrendered and has been very cooperative," Goodman said.

Rink faces two to 15 years in prison on the charge of leaving the scene, one to six years on the reckless driving charge and one to four years on the involuntary manslaughter charge.

The destruction of evidence is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison, Booker said.

Authorities say the events unfolded as Rink traveled southbound on the Las Vegas Beltway between Charleston Boulevard and Far Hills.

Booker said Rink's high rate of speed caused him to lose control of the BMW and wind up in a median that was filled with large landscaping rocks.

As Rink regained control of his car and returned to the southbound lanes, Booker said, his tires kicked up several rocks in his path. One of the rocks hit Rogers, who was traveling northbound on the beltway, in the head. She died five days later.

"Anybody hits those rocks with that kind of velocity is going to throw them around," Booker said.

After Rogers was struck, Rink continued traveling southbound on the Las Vegas Beltway toward Industrial Road, the prosecutor said.

An eyewitness followed Rink for a few miles and then returned to the scene, where he gave police Rink's license plate number, Booker said.

Rink then pulled over into the parking lot of Pacific Seafood near the Las Vegas Beltway and Industrial Road, about eight miles from where Rogers was struck, Booker said.

A short time later, Booker said, a witness noticed Rink and an unidentified woman transferring boxes and clothing from the BMW.

Shortly after that another employee noticed two other men pull up to the BMW in a Jeep Cherokee. One of the men tried to open the door to the BMW but the alarm went off. The man then turned the alarm off with a key-ring device, Booker said.

What happened next is still unclear.

"Moments later the car was engulfed in flames," Booker said. "One of them evidently torched the vehicle."

Authorities are unsure who the men were or why they burned the car. The car was legally registered to Rink and police found a business card for an adult website with Rink's name on it in the trunk of the car, Booker said.

Goodman said Rink is a real estate agent.

Booker said most of the BMW's interior was burned and rocks "about as big as your fist" were found under the carriage of the car.

A plastic bottle containing gasoline was also found in the car, Booker said.

Booker said authorities may not have found Rink if the witness had not followed him and given police the license number and a physical description.

"He went above and beyond the call of duty," the prosecutor said.

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