County won’t use kids in highway cleanups

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

Teens who commit minor offenses will continue to work on cleanup crews in Clark County as part of their community service -- but no longer near busy highways.

That is the decision reached by county officials in the wake of the deaths of six teenagers, killed when a minivan ran off Interstate 15 and hit the highway cleanup crew March 19.

"We weighed the benefits of the highway cleanup program to the community against the hazard that it placed on the youths, and we decided that the benefits are far less than the potential hazard," Clark County spokesman Doug Bradford said.

"We have been talking about this since after the accident. We will continue the work program, but not along freeways and highways."

Bradford said the program now will focus on cleanup crews being sent to area parks, as well as trash-littered desert areas and vacant lots. He said the program also will include the painting of walls and sidewalks covered with graffiti.

"It was doubtful that the county could have done anything to prevent this tragedy because the children were well off the roadway and they were supervised by an adult," Bradford said. "Just the same, we will not be putting kids out there again."

Jessica Williams remains in jail on charges in the deaths, with bail set at $5 million. She faces the possibility of a 120-year prison sentence if convicted of driving under the influence.

According to prosecutors, Williams was under the influence of marijuana and the hallucinogenic drug Ecstasy when she fell asleep at the wheel of her father's minivan.

The van went off into the I-15 median, traveled more than 200 feet and then struck six teenagers who were picking up trash. Five of the teens, Scott Garner Jr., Alberto Puig, Anthony Smith, Rebeccah Glicken and Malina Stoltzfus, died at the scene. A sixth, Jennifer Booth, died the next day.

The defense has maintained that Williams, who turned 21 a few days after the accident, merely fell asleep.

At the time of the accident, Williams told police she lived in Littlefield, Ariz.