Indictment returned in death of jackpot winner’s sister

Kim Smith

Friday, March 31, 2000 | 10:49 a.m.

A Clark County grand jury has indicted a Las Vegas man on 13 charges stemming from the accident that seriously injured a Megabucks winner and killed her sister.

Clark Morse, who has been arrested at least 16 times on driving under the influence, 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.

Because someone was killed and another seriously injured as a result of the accident, the DUI charges carry a two- to 20-year prison sentence. Those convicted of the charge are not eligible for probation, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said.

According to police, Morse, 57, rear-ended Cynthia Jay-Brennan's 1999 Chevrolet Camaro as the 37-year-old was waiting at a red light behind three other cars at Boulder Highway and Indios Avenue on March 11. Jay-Brennan's vehicle was propelled into the other cars.

Jay-Brennan, who won $35 million in January in a record Megabucks jackpot, was seriously injured and is now at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver. Her sister, Lela Anne Jay, 45, was killed. Those in the other vehicles received minor injuries.

The seven counts of leaving the scene of the accident are tied to the seven people in the accident.

Blood tests taken within 90 minutes of the accident showed Morse had a blood alcohol content of 0.18 and 0.15, Booker said.