Paragraph 3 reads: "Allen said the 21-year-old Reno man told a trooper he had taken two hits of acid and a half-bottle of the anti-depressant Zoloft because he wanted to die."

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Man survives suspected suicide attempt

Reno Gazette-Journal (NV) - December 15, 2004
Author: Jaclyn O'Malley
By Jaclyn O'Malley

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

A suspected suicidal motorist who crashed a stolen van near the Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe resort was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, reported the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Tyler Crippen had been taken by ambulance Thursday to Washoe Medical Center after he crashed a 1990 Dodge van on Mount Rose Highway, said Trooper Chuck Allen, NHP spokesman. The 11:30 p.m. accident was about three miles east of the summit. He said the van had been reported stolen that day.

Allen said the 21-year-old Reno man told a trooper he had taken two hits of acid and a half-bottle of the anti-depressant Zoloft because he wanted to die.

At the hospital, Crippen was abusive to the medical staff and "took a swing" at a nurse and was handcuffed to his bed, according to the arrest report.

The trooper observed Crippen smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot and glassy eyes, the report said. Crippen seemed confused and was belligerent and verbally abusive.

"(Expletive) off cop, I don't like you," Crippen said to the trooper who asked him not to use profanity in front of the ladies present in the room, according to the report.

Investigators said Crippen crashed because he was driving on the winding highway too fast for roadway conditions and lost control.

"You just never know what the mental status is of other drivers on highway," Allen said. "It's critical to pay attention to all traffic especially on this highway where the only barrier between the lanes is two painted lines. We were really fortunate he didn't strike another vehicle and kill someone."

Crippen was booked into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, grand larceny auto, failure to use due care involving an accident and driving without a license.

‘We were really fortunate he didn't strike another vehicle and kill someone.'

Trooper Chuck Allen

NHP spokesman
Edition: Final
Section: Reno Sparks
Page: 3C
Record Number: ren10580905
Copyright (c) Reno Gazette-Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
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Man survives suspected suicide attempt