Woman killed in I-15 crash

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 9:57 a.m.

A woman was killed and two others injured when a dump truck vaulted over a jersey wall on Interstate 15 Monday, crushing a sport utility vehicle.

The Nevada Highway Patrol's commercial inspection division is pursing an investigation to determine what caused John Lincoln, 45, to lose control of the 1994 Freight Liner dump truck while northbound on I-15 between Cheyenne Avenue and Lake Mead Boulevard about 3:40 p.m.

The dump truck had been in the far right lane when for unknown reasons swerved left across the other northbound lanes, collided with the jersey wall, and then flipped over into the southbound side, crushing a 1997 Ford utility vehicle and instantly killing southbound driver Kim Phillips, 40, of Las Vegas, authorities said.

The force of the impact knocked the dump truck back over the wall, landing partially on its wheels in the northbound lanes, said Trooper Todd Marhold, NHP spokesman.

Debris from the crash, meanwhile, damaged at least five other southbound cars on the road. Among them was a 1995 Saturn driven by Molly Ames, 26, of Henderson, a friend of Phillips who reported minor injuries and declined treatment at the scene. Ames told troopers she would transport herself to the hospital later.

Phillips and Ames are believed to be school teachers in the Las Vegas Valley, Marhold said.

Lincoln, who possessed a driver's license from Colorado Springs, Colo., but claimed to have moved to Las Vegas two weeks ago, suffered a broken collar bone and facial injuries, Marhold said. He was transported by ambulance to University Medical Center.

Troopers reported that Lincoln provided conflicting statements regarding what caused him to swerve across the road, Marhold said.

Other cars hit with debris in the crash were a 1992 Toyota pickup driven by Ryan Golay, 24, of Henderson; a 1994 Honda four-door driven by Seangsumat Phranatahapong, 34, of North Las Vegas; a 1987 Ford two-door driven by Jose Torres of North Las Vegas; and a 1985 Toyota pickup driven by Thomas Delzer of Henderson.

The southbound lanes of I-15 were shut down about four hours until the wreckage could be cleared, Marhold said.