Local news briefs for August 4, 1999

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 10:46 a.m.

Seven hospitalized after crash

Seven people were hospitalized Tuesday after a two-car accident in North Las Vegas.

Five people in a 1994 Buick sedan were traveling north on Carey Avenue approaching the intersection with Simmons Street when their car was struck on the left front side by a 1994 Oldsmobile, North Las Vegas Police said. The driver of the Oldsmobile ran a stop sign at the intersection, police said.

All five in the Buick and two of the four people in the Oldsmobile were taken to University Medical Center. The hospital was unable to provide information on their conditions this morning.

Police say speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. None were wearing seatbelts, police said.

Two women flown to hospital

Two women were taken by helicopter to University Medical Center on Tuesday night after the sports utility vehicle they were riding in overturned.

The women were traveling northbound on Interstate 15 between Primm and Jean when the driver lost control for unknown reasons and the vehicle rolled over. One woman was in serious condition this morning and the other woman was in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Their identifications have not yet been released.

The accident snarled northbound traffic for about an hour.

Outpatient expansion part of negotiations

The Department of Veterans Affairs is in negotiations to expand and upgrade the Community Based Outpatient Clinic for veterans in Henderson.

No other area in the country has seen as dramatic an increase in the demand for veterans health care services as Southern Nevada, according to Sen. Richard Bryan's, D-Nev., office.

The demand for veteran's health care services in Southern California actually decreased at the same time that the demand in Clark County increased nearly 40 percent, according to a Veteran's Administration study.

Veteran's Administration officials have confirmed that they are negotiating with contractors on the expansion and expect to finalize the project soon, a Bryan spokesman said.

Two crash victims are identified

The two Henderson residents killed on a California highway accident early Sunday have been identified as Manuel Vigil, 38, and Sandra Vigil, 51.

The Vigils were killed when a semitractor trailer carrying a load of 15,000 pound concrete pipes lost the load, crushing the cars of the Vigils and another family from California. Six people were killed in the accident.

Two sought in taxi robbery

Metro Police are searching for two men in connection with the robbery of a Las Vegas taxi cab driver.

The robbery occurred when two men entered the victim's cab in front of the MGM Grand hotel-casino on the morning of July 23. The two men told the driver to head to the area of Las Vegas Boulevard and Warm Springs Road, police said.

The men then produced a sawed-off shotgun and placed it to the driver's head, ordering him to drive behind the Belz Factory Outlet Mall at 7400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

The driver was robbed and forced out of the vehicle, which the suspects then drove from the area.

Police describe the first suspect, pictured in the artists rendering, as Hispanic, in his 20s, 5-feet-9-inches tall, 170 pounds with a Spainish or Cuban accent.

The other man is also described as Hispanic, in his 20s, 5-feet-8-inches tall and 160 pounds.

He also reportedly had a Spanish or Cuban accent.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Metro's robbery detail at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Free screening available

Free blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests and coronary risk assessments will be given from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Doolittle Community Center, 1950 J St.

The "Take It To Heart: Health Education and Risk Tests" are being sponsored by the National Medical Association and Bayer Corp. in conjunction with the National Medical Association's annual convention and scientific assembly at the Las Vegas Convention Center taking place from Sunday through Aug. 13.