Las Vegas visitor, family member killed in accident

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A woman visiting her family for the holidays was killed, along with her grandson's wife, when the car in which she was riding ran into a pickup while turning into an apartment complex on North Decatur Boulevard.

Killed were Margaret Gillette, 85, who was visiting her grandson from Charleston, S.C., and Claudia Jones, 34, of Las Vegas.

The grandson, Dennis Jones, 30, who was driving, suffered moderate injuries and was in fair condition at University Medical Center.

The accident occurred about 2:50 p.m. Monday as Dennis Jones, headed south on Decatur, turned his Dodge two-door sedan into the driveway of the Laguna Shores Apartments at 1808 N. Decatur Blvd. The car was broadsided on the passenger side by a northbound Ford pickup driven by 23-year-old Emma Hunte.

"The elderly woman took a direct hit," Metro Police Sgt. Curt Albert said. She was wearing a seat belt, he said.

Claudia Jones, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected out the rear hatchback, police said. She was taken by ambulance to UMC where she was pronounced dead.

Hunte was not injured.

Dennis Jones "failed to yield the right of way and proceeded with his turn ... resulting in a collision," Officer Steve Winne said.

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