CARSON CITY -- Carson City Sheriff’s Detectives have confirmed the death of 20-year-old Desiree Bragg.

Desiree passed away late in the afternoon at Renown Medical Center yesterday afternoon.  An autopsy is being performed today at the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office.  The full results of the autopsy report are not expected for approximately 4 weeks.

Bragg was hit by a car driven by Leonardo Cardoza in the driveway of her mother’s home.  The force of the car pinned Bragg into the wall of the residence causing severe injuries.

Witnesses reported that Cardoza fled the area in his van, but returned after crashing his vehicle through the fence of a nearby residence.  He was treated at Renown Medical Center and then booked into the Carson City Jail on the charges of suspicion of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries, and DUI.  Once the details of the investigation are submitted to the District Attorney, a criminal complaint may be issued from his office.  Cardoza remains in custody at this time.

As of this morning, there has not been a motive established for the incident and no known relationship between the victim and the suspect has been determined.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at 887-2500.   

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED STORY BELOW

CARSON CITY -- Tuesday afternoon, Carson City Sheriff’s Detectives met with District Attorney Neil Rombardo regarding the road rage incident that occurred on January 27, 2013 on Cinnabar Street in North Carson City.  The victim of this incident has been identified as 19-year-old Desiree Bragg.

The meeting between the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney was prompted by Sheriff Furlong after Detectives were informed by a family member that Ms. Bragg would not recover from her injuries and that organ donor arrangements were being made.  Sheriff Furlong has directed a death investigation to be initiated.  

Sheriff Furlong acknowledged that there had been earlier reports of Ms. Bragg’s death, including widespread condolences to Desiree’s family, but that investigators determined them to be premature to the detail.

Ms. Bragg was hit by a car driven by Leonardo Cardoza in the driveway of her mother’s home.  The force of the car pinned Ms. Bragg into the wall of the residence causing severe injuries.  Witnesses reported that Cardoza fled the area in his van, but returned after crashing his vehicle through the fence of a nearby residence.

Cardoza was treated at Renown Medical Center and then booked into the Carson City Jail on the charges of suspicion of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries, and DUI.  Once the details of the investigation are submitted to the District Attorney, a criminal complaint may be issued from his office. Cardoza remains in custody at this time.

As of yesterday afternoon, there has not been a motive established for the incident and no none relationship between the victim and the suspect has been determined.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at 887-2500.   

PREVIOUSLY REPORTER STORY BELOW

CARSON CITY -- One man was arrested and a woman was seriously injured in a road rage incident on Hwy 50 Saturday night.

Saturday night at around 9:30, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pedestrian severely injured in a vehicle accident.  Prior to Deputies arriving, witnesses reported that the driver had fled the area, but crashed his vehicle into a fence/yard just two blocks away, then he returned to the scene on foot where a physical altercation had taken place.

Witnesses reported that the adult female victim was westbound on Hwy 50 East near Lompa Lane when she and her fiancé (also in the car) noticed a car tailgating them.  When they exited onto the Hwy 580 by-pass headed to College Parkway they noted the vehicle continued to tailgate them closely.  After exiting the freeway, at the 3500 block of Cinnabar, the victim pulled into her mothers driveway and exited her car.  At that time, the tailgater who had followed them accelerated his vehicle into the driveway, crushing the victim between his van and the house. 

The suspect backed out of the driveway and fled south on Cinnabar.  At the intersection of Cinnabar and College Parkway, the suspect’s vehicle was disabled when he drove his van into/through a fence.  The suspect then returned on foot to the Cinnabar residence area where he was confronted by residents.

The suspect, Leonardo Cardoza, born January 27, 1986, of Carson City, was transported to Renown for treatment and released to custody early this morning.  He is being held on suspicion of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries, and DUI. 

The victim of the incident was also transported to Renown where her serious injuries included broken bones and internal injuries.  Her identity is not being released at this time.

The incident remains under investigation.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at 887-2500.