Accidents mark holiday weekend

Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

The three-day weekend to mark Nevada's statehood saw four fatal car accidents on Las Vegas Valley roadways.

A 29-year-old woman was killed Friday in a three-car collision near Lamb Boulevard and Heller Drive.

Rutila Talamantes was pronounced dead at University Medical Center after a Ford pickup truck struck the Chevrolet van in which she was riding as the van was making a left turn.

The accident occurred about 3:40 p.m., police said. No one else was seriously hurt in the collision.

Police said the van was turning into a private driveway, where a Chevrolet sedan was waiting to make a left turn onto Lamb Boulevard. Police allege the van's driver, Hecter Talamantes, failed to yield the right of way to a pickup truck driving on Lamb Boulevard, and the truck struck the van, then the sedan.

Charges have not been filed pending further investigation, police said.

Another Las Vegas woman was killed Friday when a man driving a Ford Tempo ran a red light and struck the Saturn she was driving.

The accident occurred about 6:10 p.m. at the intersection of Boulder Highway and Missouri Avenue. Margaret McGreevey, 67, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at University Medical Center.

John Leroy Hall, the driver of the Ford Tempo, and his three passengers were also taken to UMC with minor and moderate injuries. Charges have not been filed until the accident can be reconstructed, police said.

A man riding a bicycle was killed Friday when he was struck from behind by a Dodge SUV. The Clark County Coroner's office today identified the victim as Carlos Garcia-Cesareo, 32, of Las Vegas.

The accident occurred about 9:50 p.m. on Arville Street near Sirius Avenue.

Police say the driver of the SUV fled the scene, but witnesses followed him. Juan Gabriel Rangie-Barajas, 24, was taken into custody near Karen Avenue and Paradise Road and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

A 40-year-old man was killed Sunday when he lost control of the car he was driving and struck a concrete median.

Anthony Pizzeha was traveling eastbound about 12:30 a.m. on Cheyenne Avenue near El Capitan Way when the Ford Taurus he was driving crossed over into the left lane, then struck a concrete barrier in the median.

Police said alcohol may have been a factor. The collision is still under investigation.