Natalie Muriel Rodriguez Arrested After Interstate 15 Rollover Crash Kills Juvenile Passenger
Natalie Muriel Rodriguez was arrested after an early-morning rollover crash on Interstate 15 in Jean, Nevada, on Oct. 4, that killed a juvenile female passenger, fox5vegas.com reported. Nevada Highway Patrol troopers responded to the northbound lanes near mile marker 21 at approximately 6:29 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle rollover and a passenger ejected into travel lanes.
Investigators with the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Major Incident Reconstruction Team determined that a gray Chevrolet Tahoe with California registration ran off the northbound roadway. The driver overcorrected to the left, crossed all travel lanes, struck the center median, and overturned. The impact ejected the juvenile female passenger into the southbound lanes, where an unreported number of vehicles subsequently struck her. She sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
Rodriguez admitted to troopers that she was the driver and the sole adult in the vehicle. She stated she had been driving overnight from Las Vegas to Ontario, California, and back, traveling at 70 mph when she felt shoulder rumble strips immediately before the crash. Paramedics checked her blood sugar at the scene, recording a reading of 147, and treated her for hip pain and abrasions before transporting her to UMC Trauma Center.
At the hospital, Rodriguez consented to a voluntary blood draw, and law enforcement executed a separate buccal swab warrant. The arrest report shows she faces charges of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, child abuse or neglect (first offense), failure to maintain lane/improper lane change, and a basic speed violation for driving 30 to 40 mph over the posted limit.
An arresting trooper notified a Child Protective Services caseworker, who subsequently followed up at the hospital. A second juvenile passenger, a male found with Rodriguez at the scene, sustained minor injuries and received treatment at UMC.
Criminal Charges and Hospital Blood Draws at UMC Trauma
According to the arrest report, Rodriguez told troopers she used marijuana vape pens the previous day and took an unknown diet medication. She also reported she is diabetic and takes prescribed Gabapentin and Metformin. When questioned about methamphetamine or cocaine use, she denied the substances while breaking eye contact and looking away.
Troopers secured biological evidence via a voluntary blood draw and a hospital-executed buccal swab warrant. The charges filed against her include DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, child abuse or neglect, first offense, failure to maintain lane/improper lane change, and a basic speed violation, 30-40 mph over posted limit.
Child Protective Services intervened during her hospital stay regarding the surviving juvenile male found in her custody at the crash site. That child was treated for minor injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Interstate 15 Crash
What specific charges did Natalie Muriel Rodriguez face following the Interstate 15 crash?
Rodriguez faces charges of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, child abuse or neglect (first offense), failure to maintain lane/improper lane change, and a basic speed violation, 30-40 mph over posted limit.
When and where did the fatal collision occur?
The rollover crash happened on Oct. 4, at approximately 6:19 a.m. on the northbound side of Interstate 15 near mile marker 21 in Jean, Nevada.
What caused the Chevrolet Tahoe to overturn?
According to the Nevada Highway Patrol Major Incident Reconstruction Team, the Tahoe ran off the road, prompting the driver to overcorrect to the left. The vehicle re-entered the roadway, crossed all lanes, struck the center median, and overturned, ejecting the juvenile passenger into southbound traffic.
Worth a look