Teen Driver, 17, in Deadly Wrong-Way DUI Crash to Be Tried as Adult
A Nevada teen, 17, will be tried as an adult after authorities say he caused a wrong-way crash that killed 10-year-old Brandon Martinez in June near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The teen, who was 16 at the time, drove a Ford pickup into oncoming traffic before colliding head-on with a Chevrolet carrying Brandon and his father, Glenn Martinez.
The impact overturned the vehicle, and the child died at the scene. Glenn, described by officers as devastated, recalled trying to pull his son close in the aftermath and realizing instantly that he was gone.
Investigators reported that the teen appeared intoxicated, with slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, and bloodshot eyes. Troopers say they found beer bottle caps and THC vape pens in his pockets.
Blood tests later showed he was nearly seven times over Nevada’s legal limit for Delta-9-THC and twice the legal alcohol limit for adults. He refused a breath test at the scene but was still subjected to blood testing after being transported to the hospital.
Court records show he had a longstanding history of substance-related issues. He had multiple prior referrals to The Harbor, a youth intervention program, and several marijuana-related citations dating as far back as 2021.
He had not been enrolled in school since 2024 due to expulsion for behavioral issues. A certification order described him as displaying antisocial attitudes and behaving “as an adult, not a child.” He was later diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
Brandon’s mother, Amy Davila, who supported trying the teenager as an adult, said the decision is a step toward justice. She described her son as a kind, thoughtful boy who loved playing chess and dreamed of becoming an engineer.
While the legal system now weighs accountability for this tragedy, it is important to remember that children in conflict with the law are still entitled to protection and dignity under international child-rights standards, which call for rehabilitation alongside justice for the affected child.
