Woman driving in fatal Las Vegas reckless driving crash gets probation

A woman who was behind the wheel in a crash that killed her 9-year-old niece was given probation Wednesday.

Wendy Carrion, 23, was ordered to serve six months of house arrest, followed by up to five years of probation. If she does not complete the probation, Carrion could face up to five years in prison.

Her lawyer, Alissa Engler, said that Carrion helps support her family through her work as a housekeeper at Tropicana.

The attorney read a letter from Cindi Casias-Perez, Carrion's sister and the mother of Gabriela Casias, who died in the wreck.

"I do not blame my sister for what happened," Casias-Perez wrote. "Me and my sister need each other. She's always been there for me, even before the accident. I still need her by my side, now more than ever."

Engler said she had support letters for Carrion from 19 other people.

Carrion pleaded guilty in May to one felony count of reckless driving.

In July 2014, Carrion and six children were traveling north on Interstate 15 when she lost control of her SUV and it rolled, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Three girls, ages 4, 6 and 9, were thrown from the vehicle onto northbound lanes of the freeway. At least two were not wearing seat belts. One, Gabriela, died at University Medical Center. Carrion and the rest of the children, who were all under the age of 7, were treated at the hospital and released.

The Ford Explorer Carrion drove the day of the crash was not equipped for six child passengers, NHP said.

Carrion's attorneys have said that on the day of the crash, Carrion had dropped off her sister at work and was driving her children as well as her own in the SUV. Four of the children were Carrion's, while two were her sister's. When Carrion picked up her two nieces, she placed the youngest four in car seats.

Carrion is a single mother with no criminal history, her lawyer said.

Carrion did not have a valid driver's license, according to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. She was convicted in North Las Vegas in 2013 of driving without a license and not properly restraining a child in a vehicle.

Engler called the crash "a tragedy" and said prison time for Carrion would not have served justice.

District Judge Jessie Walsh also ordered Carrion to enter an adult education program and not drive without a license, along with other conditions.

"I do agree it was a terrible tragedy," Walsh said. "But there's absolutely no excuse for it."

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.