Couple killed in crash on way to event

Monday, April 29, 2002 | 10:57 a.m.

Las Vegas firefighter Kevin Sparks, 38, and his fiancee, Brandy Cherry, 26, were killed in a head-on collision near Searchlight on Friday as they headed toward the River Run, a weekend motorcycle club event marred by violence.

Sparks and Cherry were riding their motorcycles Friday on U.S. Highway 95. An oncoming car drifted into their lane and struck them about 1:45 p.m., the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Troopers investigating the crash said they believe the accident, about 15 miles northwest of Searchlight, was caused by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.

Sparks, a seven-year employee of the Las Vegas Fire Department, met Cherry, a paramedic, on the job, said Clark County Fire Department Assistant Chief Joe Planck, who knew the couple.

Flags at the city's 13 fire stations were lowered to half-staff in a tribute to the pair.

Sparks, Cherry and his father were on their way to Laughlin on separate motorcycles when the accident occurred, the highway patrol said. The father escaped with minor injuries.

The car rolled, ejecting the female driver and her male passenger, who were identified only as a 65-year-old man and 58-year-old woman. The injured were taken to University Medical Center.

The man had been upgraded from critical to serious condition this morning. The woman was released Saturday, the hospital said.

NHP is continuing its investigation into the accident. No charges have been filed.