News briefs for April 18, 2001

Wednesday, April 18, 2001 | 10:21 a.m.

Woman remains unidentified

An autopsy is being conducted by the Clark County coroner's office to determine the cause of death of a woman whose body was found near Warm Springs Road.

The body was found Tuesday at about 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Warm Springs and McCormick Road, Henderson Police spokeswoman Valerie Klein said.

The victim has not yet been identified, and the investigation is continuing, Klein said.

Anyone with information about the victim is asked to call police at 565-2000 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Taiwanese tourist killed in crash

A tourist from Taiwan was killed Tuesday when the car he was a passenger in crossed over the median on Interstate 15 and collided with a tractor-trailer.

Yi-hung Su, 41, was riding in a sport utility vehicle when the vehicle drifted from the southbound lanes of the freeway into northbound traffic near Apex.

Su was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver and a female passenger were taken to University Medical Center, where they remain in critical condition.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Alan Davidson said.

AG prosecutes elder neglect case

A licensed practical nurse in Las Vegas has been arrested for patient neglect after an elderly woman she was caring for in a private home had to be taken to a hospital emergency room suffering from several complications.

The state attorney general's office said Rebecca Goodman Yowell, 56, was arrested Monday on a charge of felony elder neglect.

Tim Terry, director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, said Yowell was hired to provide live-in care for the woman in a private home. During April and May 2000, Terry said, Yowell attempted to treat the resident's bedsores without first obtaining a doctor's order to do so.

He said the woman's condition worsened and she was eventually admitted to the emergency room.

Center for mentally retarded approved

Desert Regional Center, which treats mentally retarded people in Clark County, has received national accreditation by the Council on Quality and Leadership.

The center has been accredited since 1995, and the current certification is for two additional years. The council judges the quality of services to the clients and looks at prior examinations to see if improvements have been made. Inspectors interviewed clients, family members and staff and looked at the organization and procedures followed.

Boy, 4, listed in critical condition

A 4-year-old Las Vegas boy is in critical condition at University Medical Center today after the child ran into the path of a car Tuesday afternoon, Metro Police said.

Jorge E. Ortega was hit as he tried to cross Harris Avenue near Painflow Street about 4 p.m., police said.

The force of the impact sent Ortega about 92 feet. After striking Ortega, the car fled the scene and was last seen headed north on Eastern Avenue, police said.

The cause of the accident appears to be pedestrian error, police said.

Anyone who witnessed the accident, or has knowledge of the car involved, is asked to call detective Oscar Chavez at 229-3786 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.