State pays settlement in joyride

Monday, April 8, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn isn't happy the state is paying $100,000 to cover injuries suffered by a 14-year-old Las Vegas boy who was injured after taking a joy ride on a maintenance cart at the Charleston Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"He commits a violation and we end up paying," Guinn complained, before voting for the settlement.

The state Board of Examiners, which Guinn chairs, agreed Friday to the out-of-court settlement for William Sanders and his mother, Tamara Partridge. Medical bills in the incident totaled $54,000.

The youngster found a maintenance cart with a key in it at the community college and took off. He was chased by a maintenance worker in a van. The boy jumped off the cart and started to run but tripped. The van ran over the boy's foot, and his big toe had to be amputated.

Tom Ray, counsel to the University and Community College System of Nevada, told the board the boy's age and the fact that the key was left in the maintenance cart worked against the state.

The system has since ordered workers not to leave keys in vehicles.