Four killed in New Year’s accidents

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

SUN STAFF REPORTS

The year got off to a deadly start on the roadways of the Las Vegas Valley.

Four people died in traffic accidents Wednesday, beginning with two people who were killed when a 21-year-old alleged drunken driver struck their car on Washington and Eastern avenues, Metro Police said.

About 2:30 a.m., police said, Omar Bencomo of North Las Vegas was driving on Eastern when his car, a 1988 Buick, slammed into a 1993 Chevrolet sedan that was westbound on Washington.

Detectives William Redfairn and William Johnson this morning were still trying to sort out which vehicle ran a red light at the intersection.

Bencomo was booked into the Las Vegas City Jail on charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, Redfairn said.

Killed in the accident were Juan Rodriguez-Martinez, the 43-year-old driver of the Chevrolet, and Guillermina Martinez, a 40-year-old passenger.

The identity of a man who died in a crash later New Year's morning is still pending notification of his family by the Clark County coroner's office.

About 10:30 a.m. the man apparently lost control of the Chevrolet Blazer he was driving westbound and ran across the sidewalk along Sahara Avenue near the Interstate 15 overpass and struck a pillar, a Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman said.

Investigators on Wednesday afternoon were still trying to determine whether alcohol or drug abuse contributed to the crash, but the motorist wa driving well above the posted speed limit,Trooper Jim Olschlager said.

No other cars were involved in the crash.

Drunken driving appears to have played a role in an accident that killed a pedestrian on Las Vegas Boulevard near Lamb Boulevard, Metro Police said.

The accident happened about 5:30 p.m. about 600 feet west of Lamb when a 1990 Chevrolet sedan drifted onto the paved shoulder striking a jogger.

Sheldon Russell, 58, was killed, police said.

Police said the Chevrolet fled the scene southbound on Lamb, and was spotted by a Metro patrol officer and the driver was arrested. Alberto Perez-Ortega, 33, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of felony hit and run and driving under the influence resulting in death and involuntary manslaughter.

The tide of fatal accidents started on Tuesday morning when a car carrying a group of California teenagers crashed on northbound Interstate 15 near Jean.

A passenger in the car, Victorina Carrillo, 21, was killed in the accident, and four teens in the car suffered minor injuries when the car rolled, Olschlager said.