Woman indicted in fatal accident

Kim Smith

Wednesday, April 19, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

A 20-year-old North Las Vegas woman has been indicted on multiple charges in a traffic accident three weeks ago that took the life of a 10-year-old boy.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said Stephanie Bowman was indicted Tuesday on two counts of felony reckless driving, one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child abuse. In addition, Bowman was indicted on three gross misdemeanor counts of child abuse and a handful of traffic violations.

Police say Bowman, who is four months pregnant, was trying to catch up to her boyfriend and another woman on March 25 when she lost control of her car near Pecos Road and Cheyenne Avenue. The car struck a light pole, shearing the pole at its base.

Bowman's cousin, Marquise Thomas, was killed and 8-year-old Javario Preston was critically injured. Two 17-year-olds and a 12-year-old passenger received lesser injuries.

The Bowman accident was the last in a string of weekend tragedies in March.

On March 11, Clark Morse allegedly caused a chain-reaction accident that critically injured Megabucks winner Cynthia Jay-Brennan and killed her sister, Lela Ann Jay. And, on March 19, Jessica Williams allegedly drove into the median of Interstate 15 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and killed six teenagers picking up trash along the highway.

Morse, who police said had a blood alcohol content of 0.18 and 0.15 shortly after the accident, was indicted on two counts of DUI, two counts of reckless driving, seven counts of leaving the scene of the accident, one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of driving on a suspended license.

Williams, who authorities say had marijuana in her system at the time of the accident, was indicted on six counts of driving under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance with death resulting, six counts of reckless driving, six counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Kim Smith covers courts for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2321 or by e-mail at kimberly@lasvegassun.com