YOMBA, Nevada -- There have been no charges filed against the driver responsible for the death of Paiute Shoshone journalist Myron Dewey, killed in a head-on collision four months ago. Although the driver of the other vehicle was found at fault, the Nye County Sheriff's Department said the investigation is ongoing.
In the homeland of Wovoka, Myron live-streamed at the Fallon Navy Bombing Range the day before his death. Myron warned of the pending expansion of the bombing range, and the new lithium mining here in Paiute Shoshone homelands.
In the fatal accident, the driver of a larger truck, a 2017 Toyota Tacoma truck, pulled into Myron's lane on Ione Road, an isolated dirt road near Yomba, hitting Myron's smaller SUV head-on.
The head-on crash resulted in Myron's death two hours after impact on September 26, 2021. A family member living nearby, listed as the next of kin, was able to reach the site and be with Myron during his final time.
The driver of the Toyota truck, John David Walsh of Reno, was conscious after the crash and was airlifted to a Reno hospital.
The Nye County Sheriff's Department told Censored News on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.
Nye County Sheriff's Office Administrative Tech Julie Nicholson told Censored News, "This is currently an active investigation and I can’t release further information until it is completed. Please feel free to check in at a later time."
Censored News asked Nye County Sheriff's Department if any charges have been filed against Walsh. Walsh was found to be at fault by the Nevada Highway Patrol in its accident report.
Censored News also asked Nye County if the blood test was completed on Walsh and what the results were. The response on Thursday was that the investigation is ongoing.
Nye County Sheriff Officer RJ Ramirez wrote in his accident report:
"Looking at the accident scene you could that John was headed northbound when John went left side of the road hitting Myron. Both vehicles came to a complete stop upon impact. Both vehicles sustained substantial damage to the driver's side front ends."
Myron's final resting place is in his home community of Walker River Paiute. It is also the final resting place of Wovoka.
Myron was a well-known drone activist and filmmaker, who documented the militarized brutality and surveillance at Standing Rock during the resistance of Water Protectors to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Myron's photos and videos captured TigerSwan and other security operatives, the excessive militarized force of sheriffs' deputies from across the United States, and the surveillance technology at Standing Rock in 2016 and 2017.
Myron: The Day Before
Myron was widely known as a Water Protector at Standing Rock, who carried out drone surveillance of militarized law enforcement during the defense of the water as construction was underway of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, threatening the water of millions.
The day before the fatal accident, Myron live-streamed from the Navy's Fallon bombing range in his homeland, east of Reno, Nevada, reporting on the dangers of the bombing range to the people and sacred land.
The bombing range, in central Nevada, is used by the Navy Seals for the bombing, ground maneuvers, and electronic warfare, according to the U.S. Navy.
Although large-scale expansion is now being pushed, Native people are opposed to the massive bombing range expansion. Myron and Native leaders in the region have been speaking out and battling this expansion.
Returning to his childhood homeland at Yomba on Saturday, the day before the fatal crash, Myron said live on social media during the live stream, "This is what we grew up around, the military-industrial complex."
Myron said the military was flying over sacred places. Describing the destruction of the sacred here, he said both mining and the bombing ranges have caused the desecration of sacred places.
Myron warned of the lithium mining now targeting Thacker Pass in northern Nevada, which is a Massacre site.
Myron said when he hears, "Thank you for your service," another image comes to mind: "Killing, rape, genocide."
"I am a survivor of a mass genocide across the United States."
Pointing out that genocide is being carried out around the world, he said, "In Nevada it is still fresh."
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| An Avenger missile launcher live-streamed in Myron Dewey's broadcast on Saturday, before he was killed in a car crash on Sunday. This Avenger in the Nevada desert range of his homeland comes after another Avenger was positioned in the militarized police force, during the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline, at Standing Rock five years ago. |
At Standing Rock, Myron and the Water Protectors witnessed an Avenger missile launcher. On that Saturday, now five years after Standing Rock, in the Nevada desert at the bombing range, Myron filmed another Avenger and pointed out that it is protecting communication equipment.
Myron said his video is to warn his grandchildren of this corporate greed, and the greed that demands power and military force.
Speaking on climate change, he said there were not enough pine nuts to feed the people during the ceremony this year.
Myron also speaks of the green-washing now targeting Nevada, and the need to protect and defend the land and water.
"Take a breath," he said, "Take a moment and appreciate what you have."
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| As a journalist, drone activist and filmmaker at Standing Rock, Myron was a witness and documented the excessive force and brutality of private contractors and law enforcement. These photos were posted by Myron at Standing Rock, 2016 -- 2017, showing the sniper on the hill, one of the surveillance helicopters over the camp, the bridge, and the militarized tanks. |
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At Standing Rock, Myron Dewey was a witness |
