Father of teen killed in crash wants probe of county officials

Kim Smith

Monday, Feb. 26, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

The father of one of six teenagers killed March 19 on Interstate 15 while picking up trash has asked the attorney general's office to investigate whether any county officials should be criminally charged in the deaths.

Scott Garner Sr. sent a letter to Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa last week asking her office to "investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and pursue the other responsible people with vigor."

An Attorney General spokesman said Friday that the letter is under review.

Garner's son, Scott Garner Jr., as well as Alberto Puig, Anthony Smith, Malena Stoltzfus, Rebecca Glicken and Jennifer Booth, were killed by a van that ran off the road and hit them as they were working in a program for juvenile offenders. All had been involved in minor crimes.

The driver of the van, Jessica Williams, 21, was convicted of driving under the influence in the accident and faces up to 120 years in prison.

But Garner and the other victims' family members believe Clark County and Republic Services of Southern Nevada, which funded the program, should be held criminally responsible for the crash, as well.

The families have sued the company and Clark County.

Meanwhile, a hearing has been scheduled next week on a proposed bill spearheaded by Scott Garner Sr. that would prohibit children from working on the state's highways.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee will be asked to hear testimony next week on Assembly Bill 27.

The bill reads as follows "If a child is required to perform any work or community service pursuant to this chapter, the person or entity responsible for supervising the performance of such work or community service shall not allow the child to perform the work or community service on or near a highway or in any other dangerous situation."

Proponents of the Garner bill are being asked to fax letters of support to (702) 792-9647.

Christensen said he and Garner will appear before the committee in Carson City and hope to be armed with hundreds of support letters.