Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Man pleads guilty to DUI in death of relay runner

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Joshua Salayich

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

A 25-year-old Henderson man is facing prison time after pleading guilty today to being under the influence of alcohol when he fatally struck a relay runner in October.

Joshua Salayich pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence resulting in death or substantial bodily injury in connection with an incident Oct. 10 that left 33-year-old relay runner Jeremy Kunz of Kamas, Utah, dead.

The charge carries mandatory prison time of two to 20 years. A second charge of leaving the scene of the accident will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement, prosecutor Shelly Small said.

A sentencing hearing was set for May 10 and prosecutor Eric Bauman said the state will argue Salayich should spend significantly more than two years behind bars.

Salayich had a blood-alcohol level of .265 at the time of the incident, Small said.

The case is Salayich’s first drunken driving offense. He was arrested after police said he lost control of his vehicle near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Stephanie Street, striking Kunz, who the coroner’s office said died of several blunt force traumatic injuries received as a result of the collision.

The death was officially ruled an accident.

Salayich, who suffered minor injuries, also was accused of running from the car after he allegedly struck 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.

Salayich has been out of custody since posting a $125,000 bond.

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