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By Cara McCoy 
Published Monday, May 10, 2010 | 9:56 a.m.
Updated Monday, May 10, 2010 | 1:08 p.m.
Joshua Salayich
Jeremy Kunz and his wife, Melinda, at the Ragnar Relay Las Vegas starting line.
Sun Archives
- Man pleads guilty to DUI in death of relay runner (1-7-2010)
- Arraignment set for man accused in relay runner’s death (12-8-2009)
- Hearing delayed for man accused in relay runner’s death (11-3-2009)
- Report: Relay runner’s partner saw fatal crash (10-15-2009)
- Suspected drunk driver arrested in relay runner's death (10-11-2009)
A Henderson man will spend between seven and 20 years behind bars for an October drunken driving crash that killed a Utah relay race runner.
A tearful Joshua Vincent Salayich, 26, was sentenced Monday in district court after pleading guilty in January to one count of driving under the influence resulting in death for the collision Oct. 10 near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Stephanie Street in Henderson. The crash killed 33-year-old relay runner Jeremy Kunz of Kamas, Utah.
Salayich apologized to the court, to his family and to Kunz’s family before District Court Judge David Barker sentenced him in a courtroom packed with crying family members.
“I just can’t even start to explain, to put into words how sorry I am and how bad I feel. It makes me sick every single day to think that I have done this to somebody’s family,” Salayich told the judge.
He asked for leniency and told the judge he wanted to do whatever he could to advocate against drunken driving, including speaking at schools and to community groups.
“There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about what I’ve done,” he said.
Prosecutor Eric Bauman told the court that at the time of the crash, Salayich had a blood-alcohol level of 0.26 -- more than three times the legal limit of .08.
“He had no business being anywhere in the vicinity of a vehicle, much less driving one,” Bauman told the judge. “As a result of his selfish, his stupid, his reckless behavior, he’s taken a young life.”
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 was arrested after police said he lost control of his 2005 Nissan Altima at about 4:30 a.m., striking Kunz. Another runner told police he jumped out of the way of the speeding car, which struck Kunz before rolling over in a desert area near the road. Salayich got out of the car, which landed on its wheels, and walked away, the witness told police.
Salayich’s attorney, Michael Van, asked for as lenient a sentence as possible, saying his client had accepted full responsibility.
Kunz’s family members said they forgave Salayich but asked the judge for a stiff sentence that would deter others from drinking and driving.
“Has a little alcohol affected my family’s life? More than words can express. My three children have lost their loving father and I have lost the love of my life,” Kunz’s wife, Melinda, told the judge. “I want Mr. Salayich and this court to understand that I want the consequences of his actions to be fully applied to him. His actions and their consequences have been fully applied to me.”
She also described the financial hardship of losing her family’s breadwinner. Two of her children have health issues that have made it difficult for them to find affordable insurance, she said.
“This crime has affected our lives in more ways than I can express to this court,” she said.
Kunz’s mother, Denise Kunz, said her son had been well-loved in his community and was active in the Mormon church. An avid hiker and backpacker, Kunz was a scout leader who loved photography. He also loved helping others, she said.
“He always had time for other people. The impact of this crime on the Kamas Valley cannot be calculated,” she said.
Kunz’s father, Bart Kunz, criticized Salayich for running from the scene instead of stopping to render aid.
“I do not want anyone else to suffer as I have suffered. I do not want people to lose a son, or a husband, or a father, or a friend because of the drunk driving of someone else,” Bart Kunz told the judge. “I would encourage you to help send this message – that this is unacceptable, that drinking and driving must not happen.”
In handing down his sentence, which was more than the six years recommended by the parole and probation department, Barker told Salayich that his actions after the collision – which included encouraging witnesses not to call the police, resisting officers, denying being behind the wheel and having a bag of marijuana in his possession – factored into his sentencing decision.
He said an important mitigating factor was that Salayich took responsibility for his actions.
“There are no winners in this situation,” Barker said, “But there must be accountability.”
A charge of leaving the scene of an accident was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
In addition to the prison time, Salayich was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay more than $13,000 in restitution for funeral expenses. Until being remanded Monday, he had been out of custody since posting $125,000 bail.
Wow. Somehow, the punishment just doesn't sound right or harsh enough, for taking a life while in a drunken/drugged stupor.
He'll be out in 4 with good behavior, just in time to celebrate his 30th birthday. Hope he at least learned something.
My heart goes out to the wife and 3 children. But, I was out at Lake Mead a couple of weeks ago and they had races going on. Very dangerous! There were people running and bicycles all over the roads. Close the streets or get them on the bike paths. It was ridiculous.
Rot in prison you piece of garbage, and I hope you have to do the full 20!!
I think a minimum of 7 years for a deadly hit and run DUI is not enough. When this guy gets out of jail does he get to drive again? When you hit a pedestrian after drinking you should lose your license FOR LIFE. If you kill a person in any DUI accident, I think people should serve 20 years in jail.
Also, I am having a hard time understanding this relay race that has runners out on roads at 4:30am. Why would the city allow them to do this? Someone had to know ahead of time that this was not a good idea. I am not a runner, but I always see runners opt to run on the pavement instead of off the street or on sidewalks. Sorry, but the roads are not meant for that kind of activity.
jaycooke :
Your beliefs are a bit selfish regarding the roads. The roads are payed for by the taxpayers and are in fact for autos, horse and buggy, motorcycles, bicycles, joggers, and unfortunately have to be crossed by Desert Tortoises and other wildlife from time to time which get killed by motorists..
What a scumbag. Responsible people do not leave or attempt to leave the scene of an accident, especially one involving a pedestrian. Every action Mr. Salayich has taken, including "took responsibility for his actions" was self-serving, intended to get other charges dropped or to lighten his sentence. He destroyed several families, his own family included. He deserves everything he gets and more.
See! Those illegals are ruining the country!
(Sarcasm directed at those commentators who always bring up a criminal's legal status when in a similar DUI situation.)
Jeremy was not running when he was hit and killed. He was on the side of the road.
environprotector, the roads are for cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Road maintenance is paid for by gasoline taxes, which is paid solely by DRIVERS. Individuals, whether they are pedestrians crossing the street or runners, have no place on the road. People who drive also pay sales and property taxes even though they may never use one of the sidewalks, libraries, or public parks that their taxes go towards. Just because someone pays taxes does not give them free reign of the public services that their taxes go toward. Can I go into the library and just grab a book without checking it out and leave? Can I take my dog to a public park and not clean up its waste? No, when you use libraries, park and ROADS you have to follow the rules.
In the narrow world of your logic, what do people without children do about their property taxes going towards elementary education? How about pedestrians and runners just follow the damn law and keep themselves safe?
It is a shame we don't live in a town that is planned for runners and cyclists to safely coexist with cars. We just don't have the bike lanes and in some parts the sidewalks to keep people safe. Look at Summerlin - "master-planned" with no off-street bike lanes and plenty of neighborhoods that don't even have sidewalks.
I am sorry if runners think the concrete pavements are too hard on their bodies - but the blacktop is for cars. Not only do runners impede vehicle traffic but they are often in the bike lanes jeopardizing the safety of cyclists. If a crappy car or scooter that could not travel faster than 10 mph was impeding your progress on a street where the speed limit is higher than 25mph you would want them off the road. But because it is a runner, it is okay?
I understand now that the victim was on the dirt side of the road when he was hit. Why the organizers of this event thought it was okay to have 2400 people run in the dark on a street without sidewalks is beyond me. It just isn't safe. They should never allow this relay to take place on Las Vegas public streets again.
The world is not perfect - when you plan properly and make practical decisions you make your world much safer.
Who are we kidding ???
alright the guy is a bum and a loser and he gets what he deserves however let's make a comparison:
An ex-felon was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 18 years in prison for the murder of a 38-year-old man found dead in 2004 in the desert near the Nevada-California line.
Ok now we have a recidivist (ex-felon) who MURDERS and leaves the body in the desert.
and gets 18 years which as we all know with the bleeding hearts, liberals and other commies arguing his case HE WILL NEVER DO.
So potentially an idiot who killed, yes he did kill but WITHOUT intention could be detained longer than that other maggot who deliberately took a life, obviously WITH intention.
There is something wrong in our (in)justice system
Who was the mystery judge who sentenced this guy?
I would have to say the strangest thing about Nevada is that they actually prosecute people for deaths resulting from drunk driving. If this case had been in Minnesota at the most he would have gotten house arrest with work release. Kudos to Nevada.
with all the drunks and dopers in this town, who in their right mind would go running down any street, in the middle of the night no less.give me a break
Really? Does it serve society to lock up this young man? How about 20 years of probation and he pays child support to that family for the rest of his life.
I could possibly understand some leniency if the driver stayed on scene, rendered aid to the victim, called 911 and took responsibility for his actions. Instead, he was a coward and tried to leave the scene and persuade others to not call authorities, then resisted arrest and had pot in his possession all the while being more than 3 times the legal limit. What a dirt-bag! What is wrong with people today? I have never lived in a place where there are more hit and runs than Las Vegas. Do we just attract these types of irresponsible people or do they breed here? It's sickening. What a screwed up society we live in.
Just_Me..Yes.
By Just_Me : Are you kidding? You're not serious? This is MURDER...his weapon? his car and the bullet? his dinking...HE CHOSE to get behind the wheel and KILL this person.As far as this serving society...No it is NOT...He should have gotten LIFE FOR this MURDER.Boy would you be singing a different song if this was one of your family members...and don't tell me you wouldn't.
Just_Me:
Salayich has probably been driving drunk for 10 years. If he was honest he'd admit it. The sentence was fair. Fair for him and bad for the rest of us. A perfectly good human being was slaughtered by a thoughtless oaf. Feel some pain for his family instead of the drunk driver.
Think before you type. Pray for the family of the victim.
hh:
Same goes for you. You are a heartless boob. The
victim was training for an athletic event. He was not breaking the law. Salayich WAS breaking the law. You should take a lesson from this.
Please desist from infuriating the rest of us.
I would have given him 30-40 years with 60 years parlor $300.000.00 payment to the family. sound to tough? It should be I am getting fed-up with all these low an short time in jail . hope he he fine s a very large NEW friend that will will us him like a teddy bear at night .......
This is truly outrageous. This creep mowed down a innocent man, and he gets a few years. My old neighbor who has no criminal record, 58 years old, was caught with a something he should not of had, is being threatened with life in prison. Hopefully the Sun will publish the so called judge in this case, he or she does not deserve the job, and should be bounced out on their ear next election. One thing for sure, this punk will be out in a few years and my guess will run a foul of the law again.
Until the consequence for drunken murder is life and or the death penalty people will have no fear in driving after drinking. At least here, I know many people who think nothing of driving home after pounding down the mountain of beers you are served in the bars here. It would be interesting to see the affects of random road stops and start checking drivers....I bet the casino lobby has something to say about that idea!
It's so sad a 33 year old husband with 3 kids dies from getting run over by an idiot who was completely hammered out of his mind. Jeremy Kunz probably never drank at all because he was a good Mormon husband and father to 3 kids. The post by Ironman LV "Do we just attract these types of irresponsible people or do they breed here?" It's because alcohol is served 24/7 here in Vegas. Unfortunately my hometown of Buffalo,NY has a ton of drunk drivers and I have lost some people who I really love to drunk drivers. Drunks are losers, plain and simple.
Who are these idiots posting who say that the drunk driver shouldn't get any jail time, that it doesn't help society? Are you out of your mind? It doesn't help society to get a drunk driving maniac who kills people off the street?
Are you insane? Personally I hope the guy gets killed in prison. Then it won't really matter how many years the judge sentenced him to serve.
In my hometown of Buffalo, NY they let the drunks get away with murder. There were two cases where someone drove drunk up the wrong way of the entrance to the highway and drove 60 miles an hour the wrong way down the highway until they finally crashed head on into someone and killed them. In each case the judge only sentenced the drunk driver to 6 months in jail.
That's Buffalo for you. They encourage people to drive drunk by not enforcing any real jail time.
In the last case of driving drunk and going the wrong way down the highway, the drunk driver killed both himself and the woman he crashed head on into. The woman was supposed to get married that Saturday. Instead of getting married that day, she was buried that day.
I have known Josh (the driver) for many years. This was a horrible accident that could have happened to lots of people who drive drunk everynight. I can speak for myself and say that I drove drunk many times, but I got lucky, an ACCIDENT didnt occur. If this were to happen to one of your friends or family, IM SURE YOU WOULDNT BE SAYING THE SENTENCE is too light.