"We never imagined that soon after, everything would change," the family of Rebekah Dauz, who lost her baby in the 2025 crash, wrote on GoFundMe
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- On May 7, Maximiliano Chavez was sentenced to 16 to 40 years in prison, after causing a crash that killed a pregnant woman’s unborn baby
- Rebekeh Dauz lost her unborn baby boy in the multi-vehicle collision in September 2025
- Dauz was heading home after leaving an ultrasound appointment when the crash occurred
A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to 16 to 40 years in prison after causing a crash that killed a pregnant woman's unborn baby and injured several others.
Maximiliano Chavez was arrested on Sept. 6, 2025, after he drove his vehicle through a red light and collided with a car making a left turn, causing a four-vehicle crash, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said in a news release.
Rebekeh Dauz, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was returning from an ultrasound appointment with her 9-year-old son, Isaiah, and several others when Chavez, 28, struck their vehicle, according to a GoFundMe.
“Just before the accident, our family had gathered together for something truly special — Baby Marlito Nikaoh's 4D ultrasound appointment,” wrote organizer Marie Slife. “…We were all overwhelmed with love and excitement … We never imagined that soon after, everything would change.”
Dauz, 37, and her son suffered life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized following the crash. Dauz underwent emergency surgery in an attempt to save her unborn child, but tragically lost her baby, the police said.
“The child was successfully delivered; however, despite all life-saving efforts, the child did not survive,” said the LVMPD.
According to police, Chavez showed signs of impairment at the scene and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He received three DUI charges and four counts of reckless driving, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Chavez was sentenced in Clark County on May 7. His sentencing follows his guilty plea to two counts of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm and one count of reckless driving in a plea agreement, per LVRJ, Fox 5 Vegas and News 3 Las Vegas.
Credit: KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas/YouTube
Dauz was reunited with her son after being apart in the hospital on Sept. 26, 2025, KTNV Las Vegas reported.
Footage obtained by the outlet shows the mother and son hugging emotionally in the corridors of Sunrise Hospital, where Isaiah had been treated.
The family's GoFundMe has raised $23,853 to support their medical costs following the incident.
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PEOPLE has reached out to the Clark County District Court for comment.
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