DUI suspect indicted

Kim Smith

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

A 34-year-old Las Vegas man has been indicted on eight charges in connection with a February accident that took the lives of an elderly couple and seriously injured their 7-year-old grandson.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said a Clark County grand jury indicted Cy Van Norman on three counts of felony driving under the influence, three counts of reckless driving and two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Booker said Van Norman had blood alcohol counts of 0.21 and 0.18 about 90 minutes after the Feb. 2 accident that took the lives of Charles O'Laughlin, 75, and Vaun O'Laughlin, 64. Drivers with blood alcohol counts of 0.10 or above are considered to be legally drunk in Nevada.

According to police, the family was in a Volkswagen Jetta heading south on Hollywood Boulevard near Hathaway Drive when Van Norman's northbound Jeep Wrangler struck them head-on in the southbound lane Feb. 2.

The elder O'Laughlins died at the scene, and their grandson, Charles O'Laughlin III of Phoenix, was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition.

Booker said the boy has been released from the hospital but still faces multiple surgeries to repair leg injuries.

Van Norman received moderate injuries in the accident.