Tourist critically injured by CAT bus

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

A 32-year-old woman visiting Las Vegas from Sydney, Australia, was in critical condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center Monday after she was struck by a Citizens Area Transit bus on the Las Vegas Strip, Metro Police said.

Police are investigating whether Mona Elmohamed slipped off the curb or stepped off the sidewalk while she was walking north on the sidewalk on Las Vegas Boulevard South between Sahara Avenue and the Riviera hotel about 3:30 p.m.

Henry Moore, 49, of Las Vegas was driving the CAT bus in the same direction. The bus driver sounded his horn and tried to avoid the woman by braking, police said, but the right front of the bus struck Elmohamed.

The woman was taken to Sunrise Hospital's Trauma Unit where her condition was listed as critical, Detective William Redfairn said.

The woman was in a temporary construction zone next to Turnberry Place on the Strip at the time, police said. She may have tried to avoid a puddle or some debris on the sidewalk, or she may have slipped off the curb, police said.

Redfairn said the bus is equipped with several video cameras, so officers will review the videotapes as part of their investigation to try and determine what happened to the woman.

The accident brought northbound traffic on the Strip to a virtual standstill as police investigated.

Southbound lanes remained open while police remained on the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, including any passengers on the bus who did not stay at the scene, are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Detective William Redfairn at 229-3128.