Driver of truck that killed boy was involved in another fatal crash

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

The 57-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer that ran over and killed a 10-year-old North Las Vegas boy Monday afternoon was also involved in an accident in 2002 that killed a Las Vegas teenager.

Richard McFadden, a driver for Pipes Paving, was not charged in either accident, Metro Police said Wednesday afternoon.

In the Aug. 30, 2002, accident, Ryan Sneed, 16, was in a Jeep Cherokee with four other teenagers when the high school student pulled in front of McFadden's tractor-trailer at Ann Road and Hualapai Way, about a mile from Centennial High School.

Ryan Sneed's sister, Samantha Sneed, 15, Lauren Ozawa, 14, Jade Ozawa, 15, and Emily McIntyre, 14, were taken to University Medical Center in critical condition, but they recovered.

Metro fatal accidents detective Steven Winne said the students were driving 70 mph and rode through the stop sign, hitting the side of McFadden's truck.

"(McFadden) was no where near at fault in that wreck in 2002, and from my understanding he's not at fault in this accident," Winne said.

Winne said there was nothing McFadden could have done to prevent the 2002 accident.

"He just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time," Winne said. "He's driving legally and someone does something illegally."

Winne said McFadden "was pretty devastated by the wreck" at the time.

The Transportation Safety Bureau does not keep any records on the psychological effects on drivers of fatal accidents, but Winne said it is common for people to suffer from various levels of depression regardless of their fault in the accident. He said a rare few have committed suicide.

"In every fatal accident the psychic response is different just as every accident is different," Winne said.

The latest accident happened about 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

Jade Kilmer, a 10-year-old fifth grader at Priest Elementary School in North Las Vegas, died at the scene after apparently slipping under the wheels of McFadden's tractor-trailer at the intersection of Gowan Road and Clayton Street, North Las Vegas police spokesman Justin Roberts said.

The tractor-trailer was turning off Gowan Road south onto Clayton Street when the accident occurred.

Based on information from witnesses -- including several Priest students who were waiting to cross the intersection -- it appeared Kilmer tried to stop or turn on his skates, but was unable to avoid the trailer's wheels, Roberts said.

McFadden, unaware of the accident, continued for half a block down the street before witnesses stopped him, Roberts said.

Roberts said the death apparently "was a tragic accident," but North Las Vegas police are continuing to investigate the circumstances.

The driver cooperated with police investigating the accident, Roberts said.

A toxicology report is pending on the driver, but police do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors, Roberts said.

School counselors were available at Priest this week to offer aid to students upset by the death of their classmate.