Fatal crashes prompt plan to build median barrier on U.S. 95

Monday, Aug. 19, 2002 | 10:01 a.m.

Nevada Department of Transportation officials said a median barrier will be erected on a stretch of U.S. 95 in northwest Las Vegas that has been the site of two fatal crashes in 14 months.

Agency officials reversed a decision late Friday, calling for the barrier after a fatal crash on Thursday that claimed the lives of Spring Crothers, 23, and her son, Austin, 4.

About 10,000 feet of guard rail will be erected along the freeway's inside lanes, Transportation Department Assistant Director Susan Martinovich said.

That particular stretch of road is traveled by 70,000 vehicles daily.

The project should begin in about four months and cost $300,000.

Witnesses said Crothers lost control of her minivan while traveling south on U.S. 95 after she swerved to avoid a tire tread in her lane and then overcorrected. Her vehicle went into northbound traffic where it slammed into a dump truck.

Crothers' other son, Gage, 16 months, suffered only minor injuries.

The accident occurred about 1,000 feet from the scene of another crash in which a vehicle crossed the same freeway median and collided with northbound traffic.

In April 2001, Mitchell Dettloff was driving his car onto southbound U.S. 95 at Ann Road when he collided with a pickup carrying a family. The impact sent the vehicle across the highway, into oncoming traffic where it struck a truck driven by Brian Lee Cooper.

Cooper, Holly Barton from the pickup and her son Benjamin, 8, died in the collision. Dettloff was charged with reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter. He was acquitted of the charges, but was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.