A Las Vegas man was over the legal alcohol limit while driving a car that smelled of marijuana near the Strip last week when he struck two vehicles, killing one driver, according to his arrest report.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Daylon Bernstine, 60, on Wednesday in connection with the fatal multi-vehicle crash. The Clark County coroner’s office identified the victim as Roy Izquierdo, 28, and listed his cause of death as blunt force injuries.
Bernstine faces two felony charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving, online Las Vegas Justice Court records show.
Police responded to 911 calls shortly before 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday reporting a vehicle collision that knocked a pedestrian to the ground near East Desert Inn and Paradise roads in the central valley, the report said.
Detectives determined that Bernstine was driving west on Desert Inn when he rear-ended a 2017 Honda sedan that was waiting at a red light “at a relatively low speed,” according to the report. The driver of the Honda told police that Bernstine was driving about 30 miles per hour when he hit them.
Bernstine, driving a 2007 Hyundai sedan, accelerated after the collision and pushed the Honda out of his way, police said. He then accelerated through the intersection and struck Izquierdo’s vehicle, a 2022 Honda sedan facing south on Paradise.
The report said Bernstine’s vehicle pushed Izquierdo’s sedan into a concrete retaining wall.
An officer who made contact with Bernstine noted that he refused to answer questions and stated “go talk to the other driver, why you guys trying to make me suspect,” according to the report.
After the collisions, Bernstine and Izquierdo were both taken to Sunrise Hospital, the report said. Izquierdo died less than two hours after the crashes were reported.
Hospital staff told police that Bernstine’s blood alcohol content was above the legal limit when he arrived at the hospital, police said. The report did not quantify Bernstine’s blood alcohol content.
At the scene, detectives found a “baggie of green leafy substance consistent with marijuana” outside the driver’s door of Bernstine’s car, the report said. An officer added that he noticed the smell of burned marijuana coming from Bernstine’s vehicle.
Officers observed Bernstine have bloodshot and droopy eyes, as well as slurred speech, the report said.
Bernstine refused to participate in field sobriety tests while at the hospital and said “hell no” when asked for an evidentiary blood sample, police said. He also did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the collision, the report added.
Court records show Bernstine was previously found guilty of a misdemeanor DUI charge in 2012. His sentence stipulated that he spend 30 days in jail, attend DUI school and a victim impact panel, participate in community service and stay out of trouble, according to online records.
Bernstine initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, online court records show.
Contact Spencer Levering at slevering@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253.
