News briefs for October 7, 2004

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 | 11:15 a.m.

Tourist struck in crosswalk

A tourist from Cincinnati was in critical condition this morning after he was hit by a car Wednesday a block away from the Strip.

William Fluke Jr., 32, and a woman were crossing Flamingo Road near Audrie Street in a crosswalk but against the "do not walk" signal about 3:45 a.m., Metro Police said.

Fluke walked into the path of a 1987 Nissan Maxima driven by 39-year-old Mohamed Toha of Las Vegas, police said. Toha tried to swerve but hit Fluke, and Fluke became trapped in the windshield. The woman was not hurt.

Fluke was taken to University Medical Center where he was being treated in the intensive care unit. It appears pedestrian error caused the collision, and Fluke is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol, police said. Toha suffered minor injuries.

Motorcyclist killed in collision

A 38-year-old man died Wednesday after he drove a motorcycle through a red traffic light and collided with a vehicle at a northeast Las Vegas intersection, police said.

The victim, identified this morning as David Andrew Ollar of Las Vegas, was driving a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle north on Pecos Road at about 5:50 p.m. when he approached a red light at Owens Avenue, police said.

Ollar went around a stopped vehicle and drove through the red light, colliding with a white 2003 Toyota that was turning left on Owens Avenue on a green turn signal, according to Metro Police Sgt. Frank Weigand of the fatal detail.

Ollar was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, police said. The driver of the Toyota, 53-year-old Deborah Dean of Las Vegas, was not hurt.

Police said the use of a novelty helmet may have contributed to Ollar's death.

This is the 98th fatal traffic collision in Metro's jurisdiction this year.

Schools rewarded for conservation

Campuses that reduced their energy usage by at least 10 percent in 2003 shared $165,500 in rebates Wednesday as part of a Clark County School District program that rewards conservation.

Rebate checks went to 136 schools, said Dale Scott, energy manager for the district. Since developing its conservation program three years ago, the district has saved $3.8 million in utilities costs, Scott said.

Goldfarb Elementary School in the district's east region had the sharpest drop in energy use of any campus -- 29.88 percent, earning a $1,000 rebate check. The largest rebate check -- $5,000 -- went to Silverado High School, which cut its energy usage by 16.94 percent.

Six high schools -- Basic, Cheyenne, Eldorado, Foothill, Mojave and Sierra Vista -- all earned rebates of $4,000.

Last year the district ordered all schools to turn off display lights in campus vending machines. But some schools have gone a step further, purchasing a "Vending Miser" for $240, Scott said. A motion detector automatically powers down the refrigeration unit overnight and when school is not in session while still keeping beverages at a safe temperature, Scott said.

Within one school year the device pays for itself in energy savings, Scott said.

Off-duty officer injured in crash

An off-duty Metro Police corrections officer was seriously injured this morning when he crashed his motorcycle into a block wall on Twain Avenue near Great Bear Street.

Rodrick Meyers, 37, was heading east on Twain Avenue about 12:20 a.m. when his 2000 Harley Davidson stalled, Metro Police said. He restarted the motorcycle and might have been looking down to see what the problem was when he hit the curb, then struck the wall at about 35 mph, police said.

Meyers was taken to University Medical Center. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the accident, police said.