Drivers indicted in pair of crashes

Kim Smith

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

Two Las Vegas women accused of mowing down pedestrians in separate car accidents exactly one month apart were indicted by a Clark County grand jury Tuesday.

Both women are suspected of driving while high on marijuana and the hallucinogenic drug ecstasy.

Juanita Kim McDonald, 24, was indicted on four counts of driving under the influence of a prohibited or controlled substance, four counts of reckless driving, one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said this morning he intends today to seek a bail increase to $1.5 million -- from $100,000.

According to police, McDonald drove onto the sidewalk in front of the Aladdin hotel-casino on April 19, striking half a dozen pedestrians with her car.

One of the pedestrians McDonald hit, Mike Wienkes, 36, of Mineral Point, Wis., died Sunday after spending three weeks in a coma.

The grand jury also returned a new indictment against Jessica Williams, 21, in connection with a March 19 crash that took the lives of six teens.

Booker said Williams was again indicted on six counts of driving under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance, 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. However, the grand jury added the allegation that Williams used the drug ecstasy to the DUI charges, Booker said.