News briefs for March 17, 2003

Monday, March 17, 2003 | 9:53 a.m.

Three killed in weekend accidents

Three people died in fatal crashes over the weekend.

Elizabeth Shafer, 16, of Las Vegas was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash Saturday after she was ejected from the front seat of a 1995 Chrysler driven by Paula Hecht, 17, of Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

Hechet died Sunday at University Medical Center.

The Chrysler was making a left turn from northbound Rainbow Boulevard to westbound Snake River Avenue about 7:45 a.m. Police investigators said that the car failed to yield to a 2003 Chrysler that William Richardson, 40, of Las Vegas was driving south on Rainbow.

Richardson's car struck the right side of the car driven by Hecht, police said.

Both drivers were taken to UMC, Hecht in critical condition and Richardson in serious condition, police said.

Another fatal crash occurred about 2:15 a.m. Saturday when a 1994 Toyota Celica driven by Juan Carlos De La Meza, 29, of Las Vegas rolled over northbound on Cimarron Road near Twain Avenue, police said.

Man found shot to death is ID'd

A man found dead in the street Friday on Decatur Boulevard at Vegas Drive has been identified by the Clark County coroner as Jermaine Douglas Bronson, 25.

Metro Police believe Bronson was shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1700 block of North Decatur. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the homicide unit at 229-3521.

Man arrested after fire at mom's house

A man who was recently released from jail faces possible arson charges after his mother's house was set on fire Saturday, North Las Vegas Police said.

Police arrested Alynn Daniels after receiving a call about 12:50 p.m. from a man who said he was going to set a house on fire and requested police, fire department and the media, North Las Vegas Police Officer Mark Martin said.

Minutes later Daniels' mother called and said that her son was in the house in the 1600 block of Lenwood Avenue in North Las Vegas, threatening to set it on fire, Martin said. She said she had a temporary restraining order against him.

Officers arrived and called Daniels by phone. Police allege Daniels filled the home with natural gas. After a match was struck, the home burst into flames.

Police say Daniels ran out the back door and he was taken into custody.

Police were determining what charges will be filed against him.

Driver shot, pedestrian injured

North Las Vegas Police are investigating an attempted homicide and hit and run that happened about 1:20 p.m. Saturday on East Carey Avenue near Belmont Avenue.

Witnesses told officers that a man had shot a handgun toward the driver and passenger of a green vehicle in a parking lot in the 2400 block of Carey. The driver of the green car hit a parked car, which struck a pedestrian who was crouched behind it.

The green vehicle continued east on Carey and broke down at Carey and Webster, police said. The driver had been shot several times.

The pedestrian and driver were taken to University Medical Center.

Rainfall sets a record for March 16

Sunday's rainfall broke a record for the date set 51 years ago, the National Weather Service reported.

By midnight the Las Vegas Valley had recorded 0.20 of an inch of rain, compared with the old record of 0.11 of an inch set for March 16 in 1952, Weather Service meteorologist Brian Fuis said Sunday.

Mount Charleston received between 8 and 10 inches of new snow, the service reported.

The valley could get more rain this afternoon.

Winds were expected at 15 to 25 mph as a storm system moves eastward into Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and later this week into the Midwest.

For the rest of the week Southern Nevada's weather is expected to be cooler than normal with another chance of rain on Thursday.

By the weekend forecasters said that the weather could be warmer and drier.

Henderson street traffic restricted

Traffic on Marks Street in Henderson will be restricted to one lane in both directions south of Sunset Road through Friday.

The restrictions are necessary as Henderson Public Works completes the Sunset Road widening project.

The final phase of the widening project will begin this summer when Sunset Road will be resurfaced with new rubberized asphalt paving and pavement markings.