News briefs for Nov. 25, 2003

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

Two killed in U.S. 95 rollover

Two people were killed in an 8 p.m. rollover on U.S. 95 near Valley View Boulevard Monday, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Joseph Rivera, 20, of Las Vegas and Ricardo Raphael Montes, 21, of North Las Vegas were killed in the crash of the 2003 black Chevrolet Blazer.

The Trailblazer, driven by Rivera, was speeding in the right lane and tried to change to the center lane in front of another car, which officials did not identify, according to highway patrol spokeswoman Trooper Angie Wolff.

The other car struck the Trailblazer, and the SUV went into the concrete barrier, overturned, and Rivera and Montes, Wolff said. Neither was wearing a seat belt.

Montes died at the scene, and Rivera died about 3 a.m. at University Medical Center, according to UMC spokeswoman Cheryl Persinger.

Troopers investigating the crash believed that speed and possibly alcohol were factors.

Victim identified in traffic accident

The victim of a deadly car crash Sunday night was identified Monday as Michael Hernandez, 18, of Las Vegas.

The accident took place on Nellis Boulevard near Wyoming Avenue.

Mark Pagadun, 25, of Hawaii, suffered moderate injuries when his 1996 Ford sport utility vehicle hit the teen's 1993 Pontiac two-door sedan after the Pontiac spun out of control and over the median into the oncoming traffic, Metro Police said.

Busy Hoover Dam traffic expected

Motorists planning to cross Hoover Dam during the four-day Thanksgiving Day period should expect heavier and slower-than-normal traffic, Bureau of Reclamation officials said.

Wednesday through Sunday are projected to be the busiest traffic days at the dam this year.

Peak traffic hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bureau spokeswoman Colleen Dwyer said.

However, drivers traveling at other times should expect delays, usually for shorter periods, she said.

The speed limit approaching the dam is 15 mph and will be enforced.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, commercial trucks and buses with luggage are prohibited from crossing the dam.

Hoover Dam will be open for tours before and after Thursday, but all facilities, including parking, the visitor center, all concessions and tour service, will be closed Thursday.

The Arizona Spillway parking lot will be closed Thursday, but other Arizona parking lots will remain open. Visitors may walk around the top of the dam until dark.

All facilities will reopen at 9 a.m. on Friday. The parking garage will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open house set on freeway project

The Nevada Transportation Department will have an open house Dec. 4 to discuss the impact of the planned U.S. 95 widening project on Rancho Drive.

The construction will close ramps leading to Rancho off U.S. 95 for up to 20 days, although a minimum of one lane of travel in each direction on Rancho will be maintained. Construction is expected to begin in January and take three to four months.

A model of the completed U.S. 95 widening project and individual project information will be available at the open house. NDOT officials will be available to address questions and concerns.

The open house will be Dec. 4 between 4 and 7 p.m. at the U.S. 95 Project Office, 3828 Meadows Lane. The office is at the corner of Meadows Lane and Valley View Boulevard in the Meadows Business Center.

Petition suit will be fought in court

Attorney General Brian Sandoval will not issue a legal opinion on the validity of the Nevada Constitution's requiring signatures in 75 percent of the state's counties on initiative petitions, opting instead to fight the battle in court.

Secretary of State Dean Heller had asked for a legal opinion in view of the ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in an Idaho case that the requirement to get so many signatures in so many counties was invalid.

A spokeswoman for Heller said the office has been informed that Sandoval will not issue the legal opinion, choosing instead to allow a lawsuit filed last week in federal court challenging the Nevada constitutional requirement to run its course.

Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, and Las Vegas political figure Daniel Burdish joined with two national groups in the lawsuit to invalidate the section in the Constitution.

Last week Sandoval said the Idaho law was "clearly distinguishable" from the Nevada Constitution.