Karen Cannon, a 64-year-old Nevada woman, was sentenced Wednesday for the reckless driving death of 32-year-old Patrick Deloriea. Cannon mowed down Deloriea as he was crossing the road in May 2025, later claiming to have hit a coyote while filing a claim with AAA and getting her Tesla repaired. During her sentencing, she tearfully begged for forgiveness from Deloriea’s family, but her apology was met with anger and refusal.
The Fatal Incident and Reckless Driving
Court records show that Cannon pleaded guilty to reckless driving resulting in death and failing to stop at the scene of the crash. On May 2025, Cannon struck Deloriea with her Tesla Model Y while driving at 66.3 mph in a 35 mph zone. The force of the impact sent Deloriea’s body soaring 155 feet into the air. Despite this, Cannon fled the scene, leaving Deloriea to die at the intersection of Vegas Drive and Rainbow Boulevard.
Days after the incident, Cannon took her damaged vehicle to a body shop for repairs, filing a AAA claim where she claimed the car had been hit by a coyote. She also stated that she had dropped off a friend before the supposed collision with the animal. However, suspicions were raised, and the owner of the body shop, who saw news reports about the accident, alerted the authorities. He turned over the fender from Cannon’s car to the police, which eventually led to her arrest.
Emotional Apologies and Family’s Anger
At her sentencing, Cannon broke down in tears, asking for forgiveness. “Please forgive me, please,” she said, apologizing to Deloriea’s family. She explained, “It’s unfortunate, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m sorry.” However, her remorse was not accepted. Deloriea’s family members, seated in the courtroom gallery, collectively responded with a resounding “no,” with his mother, Melody Peterson, stating, “I won’t forgive her and I don’t think God will forgive her. She will be judged in front of God.”
Rebecca Marie Hahn, Deloriea’s wife, emotionally spoke about the lasting impact of the tragedy, holding up a photo of her husband and their 2-year-old son. She expressed, “The loss of my husband has completely and permanently changed my life.”
Legal Outcome and Sentencing
District Judge Danielle Pieper spoke out during the sentencing, reflecting on the case: “There’s no consequence to the bad driving until it gets to a position where we’re in the courtroom and one person has pled guilty and you have a family who will never get back a person.”
Cannon was sentenced to serve between three and eight years in prison for her role in Deloriea’s death. The sentence aims to provide accountability for the reckless actions that led to the tragic loss of a beloved husband and father.
