Driver sought in Virginia Foothills fatality

RENO - A Reno man charged in an August accident in which a Virginia Foothills woman was killed and her husband seriously injured had five times the statutory limit of marijuana in his blood and nearly twice the limit of methamphetamine, an affidavit for his arrest alleges.

A warrant for the arrest of John Laurance Hyde, 39, was issued Monday by a Reno Justice Court judge based on the affidavit filed by the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.

On Aug. 13 about 8:09 p.m., Hyde was driving southbound in a borrowed Toyota truck only 90 minutes after his release from a hospital following an earlier accident. The truck crossed the oncoming lane on Toll Road near Gold Run Drive in the Virginia Foothills and struck Storey County firefighter Darin Berry and his wife, Kelly, from behind as the couple walked southbound on the northbound shoulder, according to the Washoe County police report.

Kelly Berry, 24, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Darin Berry, 25, sustained a compound fracture to his lower left leg and was taken by Care Flight helicopter to Washoe Medical Center where he underwent surgery.

Hyde was taken to Washoe Medical Center with minor injuries.

According to the affidavit, a blood sample was taken from Hyde at 9:39 p.m.

An analysis of the blood by the Washoe County Sheriff's Department's Forensic Science Division revealed Hyde allegedly had 28 nanograms of marijuana per milliliter of blood and 190 nanograms of methamphetamine per milliliter of blood in his system, 99 minutes after the accident.

Under Nevada law, a person can be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance if he or she has 5 nanograms of marijuana and 100 nanograms of methamphetamine.

Following the accident investigators also allegedly found a .08 grams of methamphetamine in a backpack belonging to Hyde in the truck.

The four felony charges filed against Hyde are: causing death of another by driving a vehicle while under the influence of a prohibitive substance; causing the substantial bodily harm of another while under the influence of a prohibitive substance; reckless driving; and possession of a controlled substance.

If convicted, he could face up to 50 years in prison.