Six die, four injured in car crash 90 miles north of Las Vegas

Monday, Nov. 29, 1999 | 2:15 a.m.

Authorities believe the driver of the minivan may have fallen asleep and veered over the center line to cause the fiery accident.

Four people remained hospitalized in serious condition Monday following the late night accident about 90 miles north of Las Vegas.

Nevada Highway Patrol investigators said the Mazda minivan traveling north about 10:45 p.m. Sunday crossed into the southbound lane and struck a small car. The car caught fire on impact, and was struck moments later by a tractor-trailer, which knocked the vehicle into two other cars that had stopped to lend assistance.

All five people in the car were killed, as was the driver of the minivan, identified as 20-year-old Tamika Chavous of Jonesboro, Ga. The victims in the car were from North Las Vegas, but their identities were not released pending notification of relatives.

Nevada Highway Patrol investigators believe the accident was caused when the driver of the minivan, 20-year-old Tamika Chavous of Jonesboro, Ga., fell asleep.

The other four people in the minivan were also residents of Georgia. They were all admitted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas in serious condition.