News briefs for September 5, 2001

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

Flat tire leads to I-15 accident

A 22-year old Las Vegas man died and another was injured Tuesday night when their pickup rolled after a tire went flat, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said.

The driver, Tony Hernandez-Banos, 25, of Las Vegas, and his 22-year-old passenger were thrown from the truck as it rolled. Hernandez-Banos was listed in critical condition in University Medical Center. The passenger, whose name was not released this morning, died.

The tire apparently became flat as Hernandez-Banos was driving on Interstate 15 near Russell Road about 9 p.m.

Health insurance being ironed out

Clark County School District officials expect to have a health insurance snafu ironed out for support employees by the end of this week.

Providers for mental health and prescription services last week dropped their contracts with the district after learning the Education Support Employees Association's health and welfare trust fund is being dissolved.

Through an independent arbitrator, the school district gained control last week over the financially troubled trust.

Following the development, Eckerd Health, the drug prescription provider, and Health Management Center, the mental health services provider, dropped their contracts with the trust.

Bobby Mancuso, Education Support Employees Association president, said Tuesday that for now, employees should be able to get prescriptions filled and be reimbursed through Eckerd.

The district is completing a contract with Sierra Health Services, which will provide insurance coverage for the district's support employees.

Crew from Alaska battles back blaze

A firefighting crew from Tazlina, Alaska, stopped a 20-acre wildfire on Bureau of Land Management property at Mount Potosi Monday, a BLM official said.

Lightning from storms overnight sparked the fire on the mountain about 25 miles southwest of Las Vegas, BLM spokesman Phillip Guerrero said. No structures were involved, he said.