Las Vegas woman killed in crash

Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 | 9:51 a.m.

A Las Vegas woman was killed Wednesday afternoon after she was ejected from a 1996 Kia Sportage in a four-vehicle crash at Washington Avenue and Nellis Boulevard, Metro Police said.

Police said Pearl Shorts, 40, fell out of the Kia after it was hit in the collision. The Kia then crashed driverless into a 1989 Kenworth driven by 56-year-old Thomas Campbell of Las Vegas. Campbell was not injured, but two passengers, Guadalupe Martinez, 18, and Darlene Marshall, 48, suffered minor and moderate injuries.

Shorts was taken to University Medical Center, where she died.

Police said her Kia was stopped at a red light facing east on Washington, preparing to make a right turn onto southbound Nellis.

A 1998 Ford Windstar driven by 31-year-old Maria Gonzalez of Las Vegas going northbound on Nellis in the left turn lane, failed to yield to oncoming traffic and struck a 1997 GMC van driven by 45-year-old Ferdinand Cancino. Gonzalez has moderate injuries and Cancino has minor injuries, police said.

The GMC, in turn, crashed into the Kia, police said.

It was the 112th fatal accident in Metro's jurisdiction this year. No charges have been filed in this accident.