Two dead, three critical in holiday accidents

Karen Zekan

Monday, Dec. 1, 1997 | 10:42 a.m.

Two people are dead and three others on life support after two auto accidents occurred on Clark County roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The Nevada Highway Patrol has yet to determine who was behind the wheel of a 1990 Toyota sport utility vehicle at 5:30 a.m. Sunday when it rolled several times on southbound U.S. 95 near Kyle Canyon Road, ejecting all four passengers.

A 26-year-old Texas woman, her name withheld until relatives are notified, was killed in the accident. The other occupants were transported by paramedics to University Medical Center and remained critical Sunday evening on ventilators, Trooper Steve Harney said.

One of the victims told authorities that she was 21 before falling unconscious. The other two are believed to be a 5-year-old girl and a woman in her 20s.

"It appears that the driver possibly may have fallen asleep," Harney said. "The vehicle drifted into the dirt median and the driver appears to have tried to steer back on the roadway and lost control. The vehicle flipped several times."

None of the passengers were wearing seat belts, Harney said, and investigators were unable to find any driver's licenses among the car's jostled contents and suitcases. NHP was attempting to contact the owner of the Toyota, which is registered to an individual in Texas.

Victor Abrego Rodriguez, 38, of Las Vegas was also killed Sunday while driving south on Kishner Lane about 8:20 a.m.

Metro Police said Rodriguez failed to yield to oncoming traffic while at a stop sign and drove his 1983 Toyota into the path of a 1997 Ford Explorer travelling west on Harmon Avenue.

The Ford hit the Toyota's driver's side, critically injuring Rodriguez, who died later at UMC. Investigators said Rodriguez was not wearing his seat belt.

Seat belts and airbags may have saved the lives of the Ford's San Dimas, Calif., occupants. Wilton Donadelle, 48, the driver, escaped injury and passenger Maxcine Donadelle, 49, suffered minor injuries.