Hearing held in Strip accident

Kim Smith

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 11:20 a.m.

A $10,000 bond has been set for a 24-year-old Las Vegas woman charged with driving into four pedestrians as they walked along the Strip last week.

Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo set Juanita Kim McDonald's bond during her initial court appearance this morning. He also gave prosecutors until May 1 to file a formal criminal complaint against her.

However, the judge put the case back on his calendar for Tuesday to give Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker the opportunity to ask for higher bail. Booker said this morning that because McDonald reportedly confessed to having used marijuana and methamphetamines, he intends to file more serious criminal charges.

Prosecutors are waiting for the results of blood tests taken shortly after the accident.

According to police, McDonald was driving along Las Vegas Boulevard South Wednesday when her car drove up onto the sidewalk in front of the Aladdin hotel-casino, striking the four pedestrians from behind.

Mike Wienkes, 36, of Mineral Point, Wis., remained this morning in critical condition at University Medical Center. Alicia Cross, 24, of Beverly, Maine, was released Sunday and two others were treated at the hospital and released the day of the accident.

McDonald was arrested and charged with four counts of felony driving under the influence, and Abbatangelo told her this morning she is not to drive unless the vehicle has a breath-testing device that prevents people from driving while under the influence.

The accident took place exactly one month after six teenagers were killed while picking up trash along Interstate 15 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jessica Williams has been charged in that case.

Williams, 21, faces multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and driving under the influence. She remains in the Clark County Detention Center on $5 million bond.

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