Three die in separate accidents

Jace Radke

Thursday, July 5, 2001 | 10:32 a.m.

Metro Police detectives are investigating three fatal traffic accidents, including one in which a tourist was killed after struck by a tour bus in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Elizabeth Flynn, a 58-year-old Ohio woman, was crossing Third Street at Ogden Avenue about 8:45 p.m. when she was struck by a tour bus, which was turning from eastbound Ogden onto Third, Detective William Redfairn said.

"We're getting some conflicting information about exactly what happened, but it looks like the driver of the bus made a real quick turn," Redfairn said. "We don't know if the signal was white or red for the pedestrians."

Flynn was struck by the front driver's side of the bus and dragged underneath the vehicle about 45 feet. The woman, who died at the scene, was crossing the street with another man, but he was not hit.

The Hebaragi and Lemi tour bus was carrying a group of Korean tourists, who waited on the sidewalk near the Lady Luck casino as police investigated.

Redfairn said that the bus driver, Kwak Tae Sam of Gardena, Calif., was shaken by the accident. No charges have been filed, and the investigation is continuing.

Earlier Wednesday, 47-year-old Las Vegan Ruth Dunning was killed when the sport utility vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck by a tow truck at the intersection of Desert Inn and Cimarron roads.

The accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. Police said the tow truck, which was heading north on Cimarron, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the SUV, which was headed east on Desert Inn.

The SUV rolled and hit another car before stopping, police said. Dunning died at the scene, and her 5-year-old grandson, Jonathan Hawes, was listed in serious condition at University Medical Center. John Keith, the 57-year-old man who was driving the SUV, Stacy Miller, 28, who was driving the tow truck and the driver and passenger in the third car had minor injuries, police said.

Detectives also are investigating an accident in southwest Las Vegas that killed a 29-year-old Las Vegas man.

Matthew Young incurred fatal injuries when police say he lost control of his car and slammed into a curb and trees on Tropicana Avenue west of Buffalo Drive about 5:20 a.m. Wednesday.

Young was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car, police said.

A high rate of speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the accident, police said.

Anyone with information regarding these accidents is asked to call police at 229-3595 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.