News briefs for May 26, 2004

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

Berkley named to platform panel

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has been named to the Democratic National Committee's Platform Drafting Committee.

As part of the 16-person committee, Berkley will help create the platform the Democrats will adopt at the national convention in Boston in late July.

The drafting committee will attend public meetings around the country to collect information and ideas on what should be in the party's platform -- the official statement of the party's position on a variety of issues.

The 186-member full platform committee will then meet in Miami on July 9 and 10 to finish the document.

Man found dead in home

A man was found dead inside a home near Jones Boulevard and Desert Inn Road about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the victim of a homicide, Metro Police said.

The coroner's office had not released the victim's name this morning.

The victim's wife and three children discovered the dead man after returning to their house on the 5800 block of Palmyra Avenue, according to reports.

No arrests have been made and the cause of death has not yet been released.

Car smashes into art supply store

A 58-year-old Las Vegas woman's car burned after it hit an art supply store when she drove down the wrong side of Pecos Road about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Metro Police said.

The woman's 1996 Mercury Marquis struck the side of Dick Blick Art Materials store in the 6200 block of Pecos Road, police said. The vehicle caught fire after she was out of the car, and a Clark County Fire Department pumper responded, putting out the flames.

The woman was taken to University Medical Center with numerous broken bones. Her condition was not available this morning.

The car was traveling eastbound on Patrick Lane, turned right onto southbound Pecos and the driver lost control of the vehicle as it struck the left-turn median and jumped the curb. One of the car's front tires blew out as it proceeded down Pecos in the wrong lane, jumped another curb, tore through a chain-link fence and hit the building, police said.

The vehicle sheared off four natural gas meters and a water meter, officers said. Authorities said the woman probably was lucky that she wasn't killed in the accident.

Man dies after crash on freeway

A 29-year-old man who was ejected in a single-car rollover early Tuesday on Interstate 215 at Valle Verde Parkway has died.

The coroner's office would not release the man's name this morning.

The man had been riding in a car driven by 29-year-old Rosita Lopez when he allegedly began hitting her in the head, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Angie Wolff said.

Unlike the man who died, Lopez was wearing a seat belt, Wolff said. Lopez told investigators she doesn't remember what happened after her companion struck her in the head, Wolff said.

The man died at University Medical Center about two hours after the crash, Wolff said.