Charges filed over death in Dayton highway crosswalk

DAYTON - A Dayton man was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence of marijuana in an April accident that killed a casino worker in April.

Ronald Shane Sanemeterio, 30, is charged in Dayton Justice Court with one count of driving under the influence of a drug causing the death of Paul Leon Dessaussois, 36.

According to the complaint, blood drawn from Sanemeterio following the April 8 accident showed 88 nanograms per milliliter of a marijuana metabolite. The legal limit in Nevada is 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood.

Dessaussois was waiting to cross Highway 50 East in front of the Red Hawk Casino when a Jeep Cherokee driven by a Carson City man stopped at the crosswalk about 12:25 p.m., according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Just as Dessaussois reached the front of the Jeep vehicle, a Toyota pickup driven by Sanemeterio slammed into the Cherokee, pushing it into the crosswalk and striking Dessaussois. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sanemeterio told authorities he was opening a package of beef jerky for his two children when he slammed into the Jeep. The children, Sanemeterio and Mason were uninjured.

Sanemeterio voluntary submitted to a blood draw to determine if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Aberasturi said Sanemeterio will not be arrested, but instead will be served with a summons to appear in court.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.