100°F
weather icon Windy

Grand jury indicts driver in fatal crash with murder

A Clark County grand jury has indicted the driver involved in March’s fatal crash in Boulder City on two felony charges including second-degree murder.

Joshua Buckingham, 27, was originally facing charges in Boulder City Justice Court after the crash on Boulder City Parkway where the sedan he was driving struck a pickup, killing its driver, 58-year-old Randy Reiner of Las Vegas.

Buckingham’s arraignment in District Court is at 9 a.m. today, Aug. 1, in Department 3 at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave., in Las Vegas.

According to those who witnessed the incident, the driver was behaving recklessly, weaving through lanes and going more than 100 mph on Boulder City Parkway. According to other media reports, Buckingham said he was driving 130 mph and admitted to taking prescription drugs before leaving a casino and heading south.

The grand jury indictment was filed July 18 in District Court, with state charges against Buckingham for second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and reckless driving. If found guilty of murder, he faces life imprisonment in state prison with the possibility of parole or a 25-year sentence with the possibility of parole. Parole eligibility for either sentence would start after he served 10 years. For reckless driving, he could face another one to six years in state prison and a fine.

In Nevada, a grand jury is convened by a district judge to look into serious allegations, including criminal complaints, to determine if there is enough evidence to charge the suspected criminal. Their proceedings are confidential, and their decisions are released to the public the day after they meet.

Initially, Buckingham was charged in Justice Court with one count of reckless driving with death or substantial bodily harm to other person. Through his attorney, Buckingham pleaded not guilty, and was said to be at home with his parents in northern Virginia.

After the accident, Buckingham was treated for nonlife-threatening injuries at a hospital and then taken to Clark County Detention Center. His $5,000 bail was posted, and he was released.

The Clark County coroner’s office identified Reiner, who died from multiple blunt force trauma. He was unrestrained at the time of the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

Buckingham Grand Jury Indictment by Boulder City Review on Scribd

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Parallel parking approved

Like so many other things in the world of Boulder City government, the issue of reconfiguring parking in the historic downtown area along Nevada Way, which generated enough heat to cause council members to delay a decision up until the last possible moment, ended with more of a whimper than a bang.

Ways to reduce summer power bills

Now that the thermometer is on the rise outdoors, the cost to cool homes and businesses on the inside is doing the same.

Education news in BC largely positive

In her quarterly report to the city council, Clark County School District Regional Superintendent Deanna Jaskolski was full of positive takes on public schools in Boulder City.

‘It’s in those small moments when you see hope rising’

As Dr. Christina Vela scrolled through her phone, showing photos of girls taking part in various fun activities, for a moment she sounded more like a proud aunt instead of the CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and now, its Healing Center.

Jarvis recognized by city council

Salome Jarvis was involved in planning activities for seniors in long-term care before she started doing that in Boulder City. In fact, she helped create the Southern Nevada Activity Professional Association (SNAPA) in the late 1980s.

Park rangers rescue missing hiker, dog at LMNRA

Last week, a 48-year-old male hiker and his dog were rescued by National Park Service rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area after a coordinated, multi-agency search.

Fire chief search down to 3

Now that Ned Thomas has had time to unpack a few things in his office and attend a couple of meetings as the new city manager, there’s been a list of things to tackle waiting for him in his new role.

City adopts fiscal year ‘26 budget

It is hands down the most consequential action taken by the city council each year and yet it often happens without much in the way of public comment.

Council reverses planning commission split decision

A permit for building a single home on a lot that has sat empty (though graded and utilities run and ready for development) for some 40 years would not usually be fodder for a news story.