Trucker Who Killed Five Cyclists in Nevada was High on Meth, DA Claims

The driver faces multiple charges after high levels of meth was found in his system, according to Clark County District Attorney's Office.

Jordan Alexander Barson, of Arizona, was charged with five counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, one count of driving under the influence resulting in substantial bodily harm, and five counts of reckless driving resulting in death, DA Steven B. Wolfson announced.

Wolfson said "significant amounts" of methamphetamine were discovered via blood test taken shortly after the crash.

Body cam footage taken after the crash shows Barson claim he must have fallen asleep, though he denies taking any alcohol or drugs.

During a sobriety test he's seen holding himself up with the side of the truck several times, telling the officer he feels "very shaky."

"I'm at a loss for words," Wolfson said. "I have said hundreds of times, to countless people, making the choice to get behind the wheel of a car when you are intoxicated is reckless. Those actions are unacceptable, and they have consequences."

"Tragically, this type of reckless behavior has left five people dead, several injured, and our community in mourning once again."

The five cyclists killed have been authorities as Erin Michelle Ray, 39, Michael Murray, 57, Aksoy Ahmet, 48, and Thomas Chamberlin Trauger, 57, all from Las Vegas; and Gerrard Nievas, whose age and hometown were not listed, Mohave Valley Daily News reported.

Five people have been killed and four others injured after a truck ploughed into a group of 20 cyclists in Nevada.

The crash occurred on Thursday morning on an open stretch of the U.S. 95 south of Boulder City, according to Nevada Highway Patrol.

The cycling group were on a ride together to celebrate one member's retirement.

NHP spokesman Jason Buratczuk told the Reno Gazette Journal: "It doesn't appear to be impairment. It appears to be a tragic accident."

According to Buratczuk, the group had an escort vehicle traveling behind them, with lights flashing.

However, several members of the group fell behind the vehicle to shield themselves from strong winds that had picked up.

That's when the truck crossed into the bike lane — for reasons as yet unknown.

The box truck smashed through the back of the group and into the escort car.

Four men and one woman were killed at the scene. Four more people, including the driver of the escort vehicle, were injured and rushed to hospital, one of them by helicopter in critical condition.

The truck driver was not injured, and remained at the scene as police investigated.

Clay Weeks, an employee at Pro Cyclery bike shop, told the publication the close-knit and very experienced group were very familiar with the route, having rode it many times together before, and that the stretch of road posed no obvious dangers.

"That shoulder on the side of that highway is wide enough to fit three cars," he said. "We don't really know how somebody managed to get that far off the road. These were all very very experienced cyclists. It's not like they accidentally rode off and into the road."

"These are people who ride 10,000 miles a year. Some race professionally," Weeks said. "How did something like this mistakenly happen?"