News briefs for May 4, 2005

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

Bicyclist suffers critical injury

A bicyclist was in critical condition Tuesday after he was run over by a truck, Metro Police said.

Scott Kartchner, 52, was riding his bicycle west on Sahara Avenue past Fairfield Avenue about 10:30 a.m. The side view mirror of the passing truck struck him, knocking him off his bicycle, police reported.

Kartchner was then run over by the GMC utility truck and the trailer it was pulling. He was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition.

The driver of the truck, Michael Hofler, 26, left the accident scene but was later found and arrested.

Driver crashes after seizure

A 75-year-old man was injured Tuesday morning after he had a seizure while driving and lost control of his car near Charleston Boulevard and Hualapai Way, Metro Police said.

The man drove off Park Run Drive, went through a fence and hit a construction trailer, knocking it on its side, Sgt. Tracy McDonald said. The car came to rest on its roof.

A man in his 30s who was inside the construction trailer was knocked around but refused medical treatment, McDonald said.

The driver was taken to University Medical Center where he was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

County moves on new airport

The Clark County Aviation Department received the official thumbs-up from the County Commission on Tuesday to move forward with a study of the proposed airport 30 miles south of Las Vegas.

The commission voted 6-0 to begin the process to hire a consultant to conduct the government-mandated environmental impact statement on the dry lake bed in the Ivanpah Valley, off Interstate 15 between Jean and Primm.

The consultant, whose hiring must be approved by the commission, is expected to review how many additional travel lanes will be needed along I-15 and the development of the airport itself, including its main terminal and hangars.

Fire units move to new station

Two Las Vegas Fire & Rescue units have been reassigned to better cover the north of the valley, the department announced Tuesday.

One fire engine has been relocated from Fire Station 43 at Smoke Ranch Road and Torrey Pines Drive to Fire Station 41 near Buffalo and Elkhorn drives in the northwest valley.

Station 41 is the department's most northern station in the fast-growing area and lacks many neighboring stations and backup, the department said.

Also, a 5,000-gallon water tanker was reassigned from Station 41 to Station 43 to provide better coverage of the North Las Vegas Airport. Hydrants are not readily available near the airport's runways, the department said.

The tanker originally covered the northwest of the valley where hydrants were limited but are now more available due to development.

The department said service at Station 43 will not suffer from the departed engine because there are neighboring stations in every direction.