News briefs for March 21, 2005

Monday, March 21, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

Head-on collision kills one on U.S. 95

One person was killed and two others injured Sunday night in a head-on collision on U.S. 95 near Wagonwheel Drive.

A man driving his truck northbound on U.S. 95 hit a van traveling southbound. The driver of the truck and a passenger in the van, neither of whom were wearing seat belts, were ejected from their vehicles, said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Angie Chavera.

The man ejected from the van died at the scene. The names of those involved in the crash were not released this morning.

The truck driver and the driver of the van, who also wasn't wearing a seat belt, were taken to University Medical Center in critical condition, according to police.

Chavera said that it is difficult enough to survive a head-on collision, but failing to buckle up increases the risk of death dramatically.

If the driver of the truck survives, charges will be filed against him, Chavera said.

Woman critically injured in crosswalk

A 35-year-old Las Vegas woman was in critical condition after she was struck as she tried to cross Sahara Avenue at Van Patten Avenue near Sixth Street about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Metro Police said.

Traffic in the left and center lanes of westbound Sahara had stopped to allow the woman, Debebe Yifru, to cross in the crosswalk, police said.

A Chevrolet Caprice changed from the center to the right lane to pass the stopped vehicles, police said. Witnesses said the driver saw the pedestrian, but was unable to stop, police said.

The woman was taken to University Medical Center.

Police cited the Chevrolet driver, Damiean Hernandez, 19, for not yielding to a pedestrian.

Summerlin Parkway closures this week

Summerlin Parkway is to be partially closed for improvements overnight Tuesday through Friday morning.

The parkway will be closed to westbound traffic between Durango Drive and Rampart Boulevard from about 9 each night to 5 a.m. the next morning, Las Vegas Public Works officails said.

Vehicles traveling west on Summerlin Parkway will be detoured north on Durango Drive, west on Vegas Drive, and south on Rampart Boulevard back to Summerlin Parkway.

The closure is to allow workers on a platform to build an overpass at Durango Drive , part of the $14.3 million Durango Drive Improvement Project.

Man dies in shooting at party

A Las Vegas man died and another was treated for gunshot wounds early Saturday after gunfire erupted at a party in Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

Officers responded to the home in the 900 block of McWilliams Avenue, near Bonanza Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard, about 2:15 a.m. Saturday after witnesses reported gunshots fired outside the home, police said.

Once there, they found that two people, both 31-year-old men, had been shot. One man was taken to University Medical Center and was treated for wounds not believed to be life-threatening. The other man, Jeffery Edwards, died at the scene, police said.

Witnesses told detectives at the scene that the men were attending a party held at the home. When the men left and were talking outside, an unknown person and shot at both of them. That person fled the area.

Car crashes into light pole

A Las Vegas man was in critical condition this morning after his car crashed into a light pole, Metro Police said.

Police say the driver, whose name, age and sex were not available this morning, was driving on Desert Inn Road near Swenson Street about 3:20 a.m. when his 2000 Kia Sephia left the roadway and struck a street light pole.

The driver was taken to Sunrise Hospital Trauma Center. A passenger in the vehicle, 25-year-old Mauro Juarez of Las Vegas, suffered minor injuries, police said.