News briefs for December 3, 2001

Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 | 9:13 a.m.

Reno woman killed in accident

An 18-year-old Reno woman died early Sunday morning in a car crash near St. Rose Parkway and Eastern Avenue, police said.

Alyson M. Christiansen was traveling east on Quartz Landing Avenue with a passenger in her car about 4 a.m. and tried to make a left onto Spencer Street, going north, police said.

As the woman approached the intersection, a sport utility vehicle going south on Spencer Street collided with her car, causing fatal injuries to the woman and a head injury to the passenger in the car, police said.

The passenger was taken to University Medical Center, where she was in serious condition Sunday. Brett Maddux, 33, who was driving the other car, was not injured and was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of driving under the influence.

Shoppers forced to leave Galleria

Christmas shopping came to a halt Saturday night in a Henderson mall when a kitchen fire broke out inside a Chevy's restaurant.

Smoke coming from the roof of the Galleria at Sunset was reported about 6:50 p.m., Battalion Chief Ron Hague of the Henderson Fire Department said.

A grease duct above a mesquite grill in the restaurant's kitchen caught on fire, causing light smoke to spread throughout the restaurant and adjoining mall area, Hague said.

The fire was confined to the duct system and took 20 minutes to extinguish. Firefighters evacuated the mall as a precaution. There were no reported injuries, and damage was estimated at $2,500.