KINGMAN – A 12-year prison sentence was ordered Friday for a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a Kingman man and lifelong injuries for a young couple. Punishment imposed by Judge Doug Camacho was the most prison time possible under terms of a plea agreement for Jessie Hill, 68, Las Vegas.

Hill was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Ronald Kagi, 30, Kingman. He was also convicted of two counts of aggravated assault for injuries sustained by Phoenix area residents Trey Iacovelli 21, and Sara Stevenson-Cunday, 20.

Hill was driving from Las Vegas to Phoenix to try to help his daughter when the three-vehicle collision occurred Aug. 22, 2020, about six miles north of Wikieup on U.S. 93. Authorities and witnesses have indicated that Hill was southbound in a Dodge Charger and traveling about 80 mph in a 55-mph construction zone when he crossed double lines to begin passing the Dodge pickup occupied by Iacovelli and Stevenson-Cunday.

Hill’s wife and grandson told officers that they told Hill to abort the passing attempt. The charger clipped the pickup truck when Hill tried to get back over and behind it.

Iacovelli lost control of the truck which collided head on with the northbound Tacoma occupied by Kagi. The latter was trapped in the Tacoma and died as all three vehicles burned at the scene.

Hill said he does not remember the crash.

“I regret it with all my heart,” Hill told the Court. “I’m so sorry.”

Kagi’s brother told Judge Camacho of the horror of getting caught in the traffic jam that resulted from the collision. He said he could see the flames from the vehicle fire as he learned his brother had been killed while he waited for four hours before driving by the scene.

Iacovelli, 21, and Stevenson-Cunday, 20, were airlifted to Sunrise Medical Center in Las Vegas for treatment of extensive injuries.

Iacovelli suffered a punctured lung and a femur fracture. The proud member of the Air Force expressed dismay that he will soon likely be medically discharged.

“I lost my dream career in a blink of an eye. My life will never be the same,” Iacovelli said. “Walking around without a limp is likely going to be impossible the rest of my life.”

Stevenson-Cunday said she and Iacovelli were returning home from a day at the lake and that she had been sleeping when awakened by the sound of crushing metal. She told the Court she suffered a lacerated liver, internal bleeding and multiple rib fractures.

“I will never fully heal,” she said. “I will have to deal with pain the rest of my life.”

Dave Hawkins