Seven hit at downtown crosswalk

Jen Lawson

Monday, July 7, 2003 | 10:59 a.m.

A hit-and-run driver plowed into seven pedestrians in a crosswalk at Casino Center Drive and Fremont Street Sunday night, seriously injuring two, Metro Police said.

Gilbert Berger, 65, of Henderson was chased by an alert cab driver, who notified police. Berger was arrested shortly after the crash on four counts of felony hit and run and one count of felony reckless driving.

Police said Berger had been at Circus Circus and was driving through downtown in a 2001 Nissan Altima when he ran a red light at Fremont Street about 9:20 p.m.

Seven people were hit, Detective Doug Nutton said. Witnesses told police Berger was going about 30 mph.

William Marsh, 43, and Dianne Marsh, 55, of Texas were treated this morning for life-threatening injuries at University Medical Center. William Marsh was in critical condition, and Dianne Marsh was in good condition, according to hospital officials. Detectives said they suffered head injuries.

"They were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing," Detective Cory Moon said. "They were all crossing the street in a crosswalk, minding their own business."

Police said Berger kept driving north on Casino Center. Dominick Tignotti, a driver for Desert Cab, witnessed the collision and followed Berger, notifying police on a cell phone.

"It was an act of being a good Samaritan," Yvette Moore, administrator for the Taxicab Authority, said.

Officers found Berger several blocks away at Charleston Boulevard and Eastern Avenue and pulled him over.

Moon said it didn't appear as though Berger was trying to get away, and he wasn't driving erratically.

After police stopped Berger, he became sick, possibly due to low blood sugar stemming from a medical condition, and was taken to UMC, police said. He was treated and released.

Berger said he didn't stop because he didn't know he had hit anyone, Moon said.

"He claims to have no knowledge of the accident," Moon said. "It doesn't make sense."

Officers conducted a field sobriety test, and they believe he was intoxicated, but he was not charged. He may be charged pending the outcome an investigation, police said.

Mark Foxworthy, 50, and Kim Riley, 46, hometowns unknown, suffered serious injuries; Ricky Niemeyer, 36, of Grimes, Iowa, suffered moderate injuries; Markus Umierski, 36, of Germany suffered minor injuries and Don Brady, 39, was not injured, police said.

Pedestrians are not hit by cars in the downtown casino district very often, Moon said. When pedestrians are hit, he said, it's usually because they are jaywalking.