Wrong-way driver causes accident that critically injures local man

Friday, Dec. 18, 1998 | 2:46 a.m.

Karen Anna Hildreth was driving her 1998 Kia southbound in the northbound lanes of I-15 about 1:45 a.m. just north of Glendale when another vehicle swerved to miss her car, said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Flabi.

Glendale is about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

The vehicle carrying a Las Vegas family then overcorrected to the left, crossed the travel lanes and skidded into the median, causing it to overturn, Flabi said.

The vehicle ended up in the southbound lanes and was then hit by a semi-truck.

The driver, whose name was not released, was in a coma at University Medical Center with multiple skull fractures. His wife and baby only suffered minor injuries, Flabi said.

Hildreth continued driving the wrong way about 30 more miles until she was pulled over by a NHP trooper.

Hildreth was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of driving the wrong way on a divided highway and driving under the influence. Flabi said that charge could be upgraded to felony DUI because of the severity of the victim's injuries.

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