Man gets up to 5 years in crash that killed 2 on a moped
A 28-year-old man accused of leaving the scene of a southwest valley crash that killed two people on a moped was sentenced Wednesday to two to five years in prison.
Humberto Lespron pleaded guilty in October to one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the March 18, 2014, wreck that left Nicholas Monday, 20, and Phillip Le Nguyen, 21, dead.
Police said the two men were on a scooter stopped at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road when they were struck by a 2008 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Prosecutors have said they believe Lespron was drunk at the time and fled the scene to avoid being charged with DUI.
Charmaine Monday, Nicholas Monday’s mother, said Lespron could have called police or stopped to help the victims, perhaps saving one of their lives.
“I don’t think you should get mercy,” she told Lespron. “I can never forgive you. I’m sorry. God has to forgive you.”
The crash occurred in the early morning hours after St. Patrick’s Day, and Lespron had been at McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon that night, according to court records. Witnesses told a grand jury that Lespron had been driving upward of 70 mph before his truck smashed into the moped. He abandoned the truck with the moped stuck underneath.
In handing down the sentencing, District Judge Kathleen Delaney considered why Lespron did not stay at the scene of the crash.
“Did you flee because you truly did not understand the severity of the circumstances?” the judge said. “Or did you flee because you knew you were impaired and you wanted to avoid much more significant consequences for being caught being impaired and driving. We’ll never know because you didn’t stay.”
In court Wednesday, Lespron turned to family of the victims and cried as he apologized.
“It was completely unintentional,” he said. “I never meant to hurt anybody. I’m sorry.”
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
