News briefs for May 10, 2004

Monday, May 10, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

Girl, 6, ejected from van in crash

A 6-year-old Las Vegas girl was in critical condition Sunday afternoon after she was ejected from a van that collided with another vehicle Saturday morning at Durango Drive and Tropicana Avenue.

The 1997 Dodge Caravan, driven by Dana Vanisacker, 36, of Las Vegas, was traveling south on Durango at about 11 a.m. A 1997 Honda Accord, driven by Truang Ma, 40, of Las Vegas, had the green light at the intersection, police said.

Police said the Caravan went through the intersection and the cars crashed. The unrestrained 6-year-old flew out the rear window, police said.

The girl was taken to University Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition Sunday afternoon.

Vanisacker and the three passengers, including David Vanisacker, 39, and two children ages 8 and 16 years, were treated for minor injuries, police said. Ma was treated for moderate injuries and released.

Man found shot to death in home

A 50-year-old man was found shot to death in his condominium near Valley View Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road Friday afternoon.

The victim is identified by the coroner's office as James Greene.

A person who stopped by Greene's home on Gaylord Drive for a visit about 3:45 p.m. Friday called 911 after noticing apparent bullet holes in the front door. Metro Police responded and found Greene dead. He lived alone, police said.

The sound of gunfire was heard by neighbors a few nights earlier, but police were not called, they said.

Anyone with information about the case can call 385-5555 or 229-3521.

Three arrested in home break-in

One man was shot and another person assaulted when the residence they were house-sitting was broken into Friday by three men.

Metro Police dispatchers received a call around 11 a.m. from a man who screamed that someone had "kicked in the door" and that he had been shot in the leg, police said.

Officers arrived at the home in the 8600 block of Copper Knoll, near Gowan Road and Durango Drive, and found the man with a gunshot wound in his leg and another person suffering a possible concussion.

Officers searched the area and arrested Jerry Christopher Vaughn, 20, Andwele Castleberry, 27, and Tomas Rivas, 28, on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping with a weapon, home invasion, burglary with a weapon, robbery with a weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery, police said.

A stolen Honda was recovered in the 8600 block of Copper Knoll and is believed to be the car used by the trio, police said.