Fernley man arrested in Sparks hit-and-run
Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
A Fernley man was arrested Monday after a hit-and-run accident in which a motorcyclist was injured.
Robert Totman, 52, of Fernley was arrested several hours after the accident after being located by Sparks police.
On June 19, 2017 at about 2:05 p.m. Sparks Police officers responded to multiple reports of a vehicle versus motorcycle crash in the 700 block of Spice Island Drive. As officers were responding, the suspect vehicle left the scene.
Officers began looking for a white or blue and white pickup truck with a black dump-type trailer attached, which had been described by witnesses. According to witnesses, the truck and driver had been making multiple trips to the area to drop off sandbags at the sandbag collection point at Cottonwood Park.
Sparks Police say it appears that Totman’s vehicle made or was making a U-turn when the collision occurred.
The driver of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital by REMSA with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
During the investigation, Sparks dispatch began to receive information regarding a possible suspect, who was identified as Totman. Officers began doing follow up, and learned that the suspect was supposed to be returning to a business in the area. Officers attempted to locate Totman for some time, but initially were not able to find him. However, officers were able to locate him while driving in the 100 block of Greg Street at approximately 5:15 p.m.
As a result of the investigation, offices were able to charge Totman with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Causing Substantial Bodily Harm for leaving the scene of the initial crash, which was at 2:05 p.m.
Officers also initiated a second case and charged Totman with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Red Light Violation and Fail to Maintain a Travel Lane. The reason the first case did not result in a DUI charge is because Totman was not located within two hours of the initial crash as required by Nevada Revised Statute.
Editor’s Note: Sparks Police initially misidentified the motorcyclist who was injured in the crash. The injured man was Cody McGowen, 32. He is still hospitalized and the full extent of his injuries are not yet known.
