The State - News from June 3, 1987

Felony hit-and-run charges have been filed against the driver of a tanker truck that exploded in flames Saturday on Interstate-80 near Truckee, closing the highway for several hours and killing a hitch-hiking passenger. Nevada County Deputy Dist. Atty. Fred Holmes said the charge has been prepared against Ross Pickering, 36, of Reno, who remains hospitalized with burns over 25% of his body. Holmes said more investigation is needed before it’s decided whether felony drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter charges also are warranted. Pickering’s passenger, Leon Weidman, 19, of Boise, Idaho, died at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center. Authorities said Pickering hopped a freight train at the accident scene and was found about three hours later at a railroad yard in Sparks, Nev.