Second person dies from weekend accident

Cathy Scott

Monday, Nov. 3, 1997 | 10:25 a.m.

A second person has died as a result of a two-car weekend accident in western Las Vegas.

Larry Sussman, 33, of Las Vegas, who died late Saturday from his injuries, was driving a 1997 Ford Mustang convertible at 4:40 a.m. Saturday, heading west on Charleston Boulevard and into the Durango Drive intersection. Sussman had the right of way with a green light, Metro Police said.

As the Mustang entered the intersection, a 1989 Chevrolet pickup, headed north on Durango, ignored a red light and drove into the intersection, police said. The truck collided with the Mustang, ejecting and killing the pickup's driver, a 53-year-old Las Vegas man whose name has not been released pending notification of his family.

Besides running a red light, police said the pickup driver was speeding and they believe he had been drinking. The impact of the collision sent one car over a curb and onto an apartment complex's property, knocking down a tree. Sussman had to be cut out of his car by a rescue crew from the Las Vegas Fire Department, police said.

Three passengers in the Mustang were injured. None of the occupants in either car was wearing a seat belt, contributing to the severity of their injuries, police said.

Scott Margetts, 25, Benjamin Rich, 25, an unidentified woman and Sussman were taken to University Medical Center. Rich was in good condition and Margetts was released from the hospital Sunday, a nursing supervisor said today.

The accident was still under investigation today, traffic Detective Rick Hart said.