News briefs

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 11:53 a.m.

Girl, 12, escapes kidnap attempt

A man attempted to grab a 12-year-old girl and pull her into his van Wednesday afternoon in the area of Chinchilla Avenue and Syracuse Drive, according to Metro Police.

The girl was walking home from Woodbury Middle School about 2:30 p.m. when the man grabbed her. The girl kicked the man and was able to free herself from his grasp, police said.

The girl ran home. The man was not apprehended, police said.

The man was described as black, about 40 years old, thin with a mustache. He was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans. He was driving a blue van.

Crash injures two on Boulder Highway

Two men remain at University Medical Center following an accident Wednesday at the intersection of Boulder Highway and Gibson Road.

At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Jerico Yturralde, 17, of Henderson was driving a 1988 Plymouth Voyager east on Gibson, police said. He stopped at a stop sign and continued across Boulder Highway. Roanulfo Avendano, 49, of Las Vegas was driving a 1995 GMC diesel truck north on Boulder Highway, and the cars collided in the intersection.

Both men were airlifted to UMC, police said. Yturralde was in critical condition today. Avendano was in surgery this morning and hospital officials could not confirm his condition. He was in serious but stable condition Wednesday.

Driver ran red light in fatal accident

Police believe a traffic accident that killed an 8-year-old Henderson girl Monday was caused when her father, Cedric Thomas, 29, ran a red light.

Michael Sarah Thomas was in the rear seat of the 1999 Volkswagen driven by her father when Thomas' car collided with a 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Nichol Lehman, 26, Monday about 6:20 p.m. at the intersection of Pecos and Pebble roads, Henderson Police said.

According to a preliminary investigation, Thomas went through a red light at the intersection striking Lehman's truck, police said. The collision caused Lehman to strike a pole in the median.

Thomas' car crossed over a median and struck a curb, ejecting Michael Thomas from the car, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gas line mishap ties up traffic

Workers digging a trench alongside of Rancho Drive accidentally cut a 4-inch natural gas line early this morning causing traffic delays.

One lane was opened in each direction between the 2900 and 3000 block of North Rancho Drive at Decatur Boulevard after the gas line was cut about 4:15 a.m., Las Vegas Fire Department officials said.

The section of Rancho Drive was closed for a brief time as Southwest Gas crews turned off the gas.

Goynes reappointed to zoning board

Byron Goynes has been reappointed to a position on the Las Vegas Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Goynes, a major projects administrator for Mikohn Gaming Corp., was nominated for reappointment by City Councilman Michael McDonald at the Dec. 1 council meeting.

His term on the zoning board will expire Dec. 6, 2004.

Arts commission seeking design team

The Las Vegas Arts Commission is accepting resumes to participate on design teams to create a public park/plaza for the northwest corner of Casino Center and Charleston boulevards.

Up to five teams of two or three individuals will be formed by the commission to work on the project.

Artists, designers, landscape architects and other individuals are asked to send their resumes to the commission at 749 Veterans Memorial Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89101 no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 15.

Team selections will be made Dec. 20. For information call 229-6074.