Flag worker killed at construction site

Thursday, May 9, 2002 | 9:57 a.m.

A 42-year-old construction flag worker is dead after a five-car accident about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday at Jones Boulevard and Smoke Ranch Road.

Lezlee Johnson of Boulder City was directing traffic when she was struck, Metro Police said.

Officers said a 1991 Ford Ranger driven by Troy Johnson, 36, of Las Vegas, who was northbound on Jones, failed to stop at the red traffic signal or the hand-held stop sign. The Ford side-swiped a Chevrolet van driven by Jose Vargas, 37, of Las Vegas and struck the right rear of a 2000 Mitsubishi van driven by Calvin Anderson, 36, of Las Vegas, police said. Both vehicles were stopped at the red signal.

The Ford continued into the intersection and struck the flag carrier, police said.

The Ford then struck a third vehicle driven by Elizabeth Clark, 32, of Las Vegas, who was westbound on Smoke Ranch and entered the intersection on a green light trying to turn left. A fourth car, a 1996 Ford F150, was parked at the side of the road and unoccupied when it was hit.

Both Troy Johnson and Clark were taken to University Medical Center and treated for minor to moderate injuries.

Troy Johnson was treated and released from UMC, then placed under arrest for reckless driving involving death or injury, a felony, police said.

Evidence at the scene indicated the driver failed to stop, was traveling at a greater speed than the 25 mph posted construction zone limit and does not possess a valid Nevada driver's license, police said.