Two jailed in connection to June crash involving bicyclist that killed Washoe Valley woman
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 09/16/2021 - 2:38pm
The Nevada Department of Public Safety has arrested two in connection to a vehicle crash with a bicycle rider that happened in June that killed a Washoe Valley woman.
The bicycle rider, Boryana Straubel, a 38-year-old Washoe Valley resident, died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained during the collision, which happened on Saturday, June 19, 2021 and was reported at 7:44 a.m.
Boryana Straubel was a philanthropist and advocate for environmental sustainability who founded the jewelry company Generation Collection, according to the New York Times. She was also a former Tesla executive, and the wife of former CTO JB Straubel.
According to DPS, at approximately 7:44 a.m., Nevada Highway Patrol troopers responded to an injury crash at US-395 Alternate and Washoe County mile marker 1.
The preliminary investigation disclosed that a silver 2015 Ford Edge was traveling southbound on US-395A north of Washoe County mile marker 1. A bicyclist was traveling northbound on US-395A on the bicycle permissive paved shoulder. The driver of the Ford failed to drive on the right side of the highway, crossed the double yellow line and struck the bicyclist, according to DPS in a news release.
The two occupants of the Ford Edge remained on scene and were later identified as Irma Arellano-Arroyo and Guadalupe Garcia-Davalos. During the preliminary scene investigation, Arellano-Arroyo reported to investigating Highway Patrol troopers that she was driving the Ford Edge at the time of the collision. Garcia-Davalos told troopers he was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the collision, according to the DPS news release.
During the ongoing investigation of the incident over the ensuing two weeks, the Nevada Highway Patrol Multi- Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) developed information that raised concerns regarding the incident.
On July 1, 2021, MIRT investigators requested assistance from the Nevada DPS Investigation Division Major Crimes Unit.
The resulting joint investigation disclosed that Arellano-Arroyo and Garcia-Davalos lied to investigators on scene concerning the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
On September 15, 2021, the two-and-a-half-month-long investigation culminated in the arrest of Arellano-Arroyo and Garcia-Davalos.
Guadalupe Garcia-Davalos was arrested for suspicion of:
NRS 484B.653 - Reckless driving; where the driver is proximate cause of collision with a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle (Felony)
NRS 484E.080 - Failure to report; false report (Gross Misdemeanor)
NRS 484B.653 - Driving on the Right Half of the Highway Required
NRS 484B.270 - Due Care to Avoid a Bicycle
NRS 197.190 - Obstructing a Public Officer
NRS 483.550 - Driving Without A Valid License
NRS 199.280 - Resisting a Public Officer
NRS 199.480 - Conspiracy (Gross Misdemeanor)
Irma Arellano-Arroyo was arrested for suspicion of:
NRS 484E.080 - Failure to report (Gross Misdemeanor) NRS 199.480 - Conspiracy (Gross Misdemeanor)
Garcia-Davalos and Arellano-Arroyo were booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility. The investigation will be submitted to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office for review.
