Man accused in crash that killed mother, son indicted

By Cara McCoy

Monday, March 1, 2010 | 12:46 p.m.

A 20-year-old Las Vegas man accused of running a red light before slamming his pickup truck into a car and killing a mother and son inside has been indicted by a Clark County grand jury.

Nathan Hardy will stand trial on two counts of reckless driving in connection with the deaths of Maria DelCarmen Lewis, 45, and her son, Daniel Santos, who was a 17-year-old student at Canyon Springs High School. They died after a crash at 8:42 p.m. Jan. 29 at the intersection of Lamb and Las Vegas boulevards.

Hardy, whose vehicle was seen running red lights and weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed shortly before the wreck, reportedly told police he was on his way back from St. George, Utah, and was “just in a hurry to get home.”

Police said evidence and witness statements indicate that Lewis’ 2006 Toyota was southbound on Las Vegas Boulevard and entered the intersection on a green light. Police said Hardy’s 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup truck was southbound on Lamb when it entered the intersection on a red light, causing the collision.

Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene; Santos died a short time later at University Medical Center.

Hardy’s attorney previously said his client might have been suffering from a mental health episode at the time of the crash.

Jail records indicate Hardy is no longer in custody. A judge had previously set bail at $50,000. He is set to be arraigned in district court Wednesday morning.

If convicted on both counts, Hardy could face 12 years in prison.