DA: Simbrat had previous accidents

Kim Smith

Monday, Sept. 9, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

The 21-year-old Las Vegas man accused of causing the crash that killed Las Vegas Sun Vice President and Associate Editor Sandy Thompson has been involved in four accidents since 1998.

Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said that while John Simbrat's computerized driving record doesn't state who caused the accidents, they do show Simbrat attended driving school shortly after three of the accidents.

Nelson said that leads him to believe Simbrat was found at fault in the accidents, which took place in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Simbrat has also received four traffic citations since 1998, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said.

He received a ticket for disregarding a traffic control device in Florida in 1998, a ticket for speeding in Arizona in 2001 and tickets for speeding and driving without insurance in Nevada this year.

The Arizona speeding ticket shows he was going 21 to 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, Booker said. Simbrat is believed to have been going at least 65 mph in a 45 mph zone when he struck Thompson.

Twice records show Simbrat failed to appear in court on his tickets, resulting in a suspension of his license, Booker said. He was driving on a suspended license when Thompson was killed Aug. 9.

"It's very unusual," Booker said of Simbrat's driving record. "Everyone makes mistakes, but it seems he has made repetitive mistakes. I've never seen a record like this in someone so young."

Should Simbrat's public defender ask for bail to be set, Booker said he will ask for $1 million at a minimum.

The public defender's office was assigned to Simbrat's case Friday, but it is unclear who, specifically, will take on his case.

Simbrat's case is expected to be presented to a grand jury within the next two weeks.

Simbrat was arrested Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance, causing death; felony reckless driving; and involuntary manslaughter.

Tests showed that Simbrat had seven times the amount of THC -- the active ingredient of marijuana -- in his blood that is allowable under law, Booker said.