Two Las Vegas men killed in rollover, 1 injured

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 12:17 p.m.

Authorities released more information today about Sunday's rollover crash that killed two Las Vegas man and injured a third.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, in which the driver apparently lost control of a 2004 Jeep Cherokee, according to Trooper Kevin Honea.

Two Las Vegas men were killed in a single vehicle rollover crash that occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday on State Route 157 near Mount Charleston Lodge. A third man was injured.

The Clark County coroner's office identified 34-year-old Kenneth Leigh Hovey, Jr., who died at the scene from multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

Hovey was unable to make a left turn as he drove westbound on State Route 157 to Echo Road, Honea said. He lost control of the Jeep, overturned and hit a tree.

The Clark County coroner's office said 35-year-old Carl Backstrom died at University Medical Center at 2:53 a.m. Backstrom was a passenger in the Jeep and was not wearing a seatbelt, Honea said. Backstrom was airlifted to the hospital by Mercy Air ambulance.

Backstrom died of a broken neck, the coroner's office said.

A third man, a 40-year-old Las Vegas resident, was airlifted to to UMC's Trauma Unit by Mercy Air, Honea said. His condition is not known at this time.