Crash Victim and District Attorney Feel Sentencing of Reno Firefighter Who Crashed Into Car and Wall Was Not Harsh Enough
A Reno firefighter, Shawn Price, still listed on the City of Reno staff directory, has been sentenced to 36 months of probation after a head on crash last March when he was off duty, for which he initially had been charged with DUI.
The DUI charge was dropped due to a lack of evidence as his blood was not drawn until a little over two hours after the crash in which his Tesla also slammed into a brick wall, when blood needs to be drawn within those two hours to be used to establish impairment.
The crash took place on Avenida De Landa near Gatewood Drive on March 17, 2025.
As part of the sentencing terms, Price will not be allowed to possess alcohol or marijuana and will refrain from all contact with the victim or the victim’s family. He must also undergo a mental health evaluation, complete 160 hours of community service, and pay a $5,000 fine.
He faces a suspended 2-to 5-year prison sentence if he violates the terms.
During the sentencing proceedings today, he offered the crash victim a hug which she declined.
The victim said she or any member of her family could have been killed, and that she’s had to go to over 50 medical appointments. She said Price was wearing a Reno Fire uniform at the time and was placed in a Reno Fire Department ambulance, and that residents of Reno deserved better.
"Our position regarding the case against Shawn Price has remained consistent throughout this process,” Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks said in a statement released to media. “We moved forward with the charge that was supported by the available evidence and successfully prosecuted the defendant on that provable offense. We advocated for the maximum six-year sentence for reckless driving and are deeply disappointed in the court’s decision to instead place Mr. Price on probation. Our office will continue to stand up for victims of crime and pursue accountability in every case. While we respect the court’s role in sentencing, today’s outcome is not the result we believed this victim deserved."
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