Reports on Fallon wreck that killed boy sent to attorney general

Police reports on an accident that led to the death of a 12-year-old Fallon boy last summer are being reviewed by the Nevada Attorney General's Office.

Churchill County District Attorney Arthur Mallory said he sent the case to the state because he knows the victim's family, along with the driver of the car that struck Jeremiah Horne while Jeremiah was riding his bicycle on U.S. Highway 50 near Gummow Drive in August. Mallory attends the Church of Latter Day Saints with the Horne family and with Richard G. Hutchings.

Hutchings was driving a 2005 GMC pickup hauling a horse trailer when his vehicle drifted into the bicycle lane and hit Horne.

The boy was airlifted to Renown Regional Medical Center, where he died three days later on Aug. 17.

"People in our office were associated both with the victim's family and the alleged defendant's family, so we need a total independent evaluation," said Mallory. "We didn't even want to keep a copy of the report when we have a conflict like that."

At the time of the accident, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Winchester said Hutchings was distracted while driving. The right front of the truck hit the rear of the bicycle, ejecting Jeremiah and causing serious injuries, the NHP reported.

Mallory said the accident reports were delivered to his office at the end of last year, but he waited until after Jan. 1 when new Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto took office before asking the state to review the file. Because he knows the people involved, he said he did not read the reports to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

"I had some concerns (the report) might sit somewhere with the change in administration," he said. "The proper thing to do was wait."

He said Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen will review all accident investigative reports compiled by the NHP and determine if charges against Hutchings are appropriate, and what charges, if any, should be filed.

Jeremiah was involved in Boy Scouts, his church and enjoyed tap-dancing and playing piano. He also loved playing soccer and working with wood.