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twitter2 dead, 8 injured in three-car crash on Spring Mountain Road
Authorities investigating why car failed to stop a stop sign
Published Friday, April 17, 2009 | 6:56 p.m.
Updated Saturday, April 18, 2009 | 2:09 a.m.
Crash location
UPDATED STORY: Two who died in Spring Mountain Road crash identified
Two people were killed and eight were injured in a three-vehicle crash Friday evening after a driver failed to stop at a stop sign in the western Las Vegas Valley, authorities said.
Metro Police Sgt. Oscar Chavez, of Metro's fatal accident detail, said officers responded at 6:13 p.m. to the crash at the intersection of Spring Mountain Road and Erva Street. Chavez said a southbound 2004 Dodge Neon occupied by four girls, ages 15 to 17, went through a stop sign and struck a 2005 Hyundai that was eastbound on Spring Mountain.
The impact pushed the Hyundai to the southeast corner of the intersection, where it struck a wall. Two of the five occupants of the Hyundai later died at a hospital.
As a result of the crash, the Hyundai also struck a 2002 Saturn stopped at a stop sign south of Spring Mountain. The driver of the Saturn, Yong Burnett, 29, of Las Vegas, suffered minor injuries, police said.
All 10 victims were hospitalized. Two died and the eight others all suffered minor injuries, according to an accident report.
The names of the 17-year-old driver and three passengers in the Neon weren't being released because they're minors. The names of the two deceased victims will be released pending notification of family members, while the three occupants of the Hyundai with minor injuries were identified as Chung Na, 58, Chung Ning Na, 60, and Maggie Chin, 67, all of Las Vegas.
Chavez said investigators are still trying to determine why the Neon failed to stop at the stop sign. He said witnesses told police the Neon was traveling "fast" in the 35 mph zone, although investigators haven't determined the vehicle's speed.
"There is no indication right now of impairment or drugs," he said.
The two deaths are the 24th and 25th this year in Metro Police jurisdiction.
Photographer Richard Brian contributed to this report.
Discussion: 31 comments so far…
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It was going fast because the driver was between 15 and 17 years old. It doesn't take drugs to make a teenager drive poorly.
Last time I checked the rules of DMV teen drivers, NO ONE under the age of 18 is allowed in the vehicle with an underage driver.
What is with these parents who let kids, 15-17 yrs old hang out in cars? Why do 16 yr olds need a car or license anyway? School busses available to get these kids to school - city busses (as bad as the service is) for every place else - let them learn to walk if they don't like the bus. Years ago (ok, I'm dating myself) kids didn't have their own cars - they walked or took a bus. How many kids have a job at 16 that pays enough for a car payment and insurance - if they're not old enough to pay for these things they shouldn't have them - too many parents paying for the kids car, insurance and oh ya, the cell phone they use to text while driving. It's too bad it was 2 innocent victims of another car that were killed.
As a personal friend of the driver I must say that they are making it sound like it was purposely done.
She was speeding,which was wrong but I know that she'd never intentionally harm ANYONE because she's not that kind of person. She is actually a very very pre-cautious driver.
Nor was she on her cell phone(She knows better than that).
So azsk8fan please refrain from the harsh comments because you along with every other person who's not a family member nor a friend really has a clue about what went wrong other than that two people were killed accidentally that night.
There were NO drugs there was NO alcohol.
It was an accident and although it was a very horrible one the driver really did try to stop the collision from happening.
Our hearts go out to the people that died however.
What's a "pre-cautious" driver - one who is cautious before starting the engine? If she was speeding and the result is two people are dead then I don't care how 'nice' you think she is - she deserves to spend a big portion of her life in prison - at least her family can visit her - unlike the family of the dead people who can only visit graveside. And please save the 'she knows better than that" when it comes to cell phones - didn't she know better than to speed?
and btw, I'm sick to death of people who make excuses for their friends who do very stupid things that kill people. Save your sympathy for the deceased and THEIR families.
I'm not feeling too sorry for the teenager who caused the accident. She was speeding. She was in the wrong. She killed two people. It wasn't premeditated, but it was murder nonetheless.
Christal: Nothing in the story or the comments makes it sound like this was something the driver purposely did. If she really tried to stop the collision from happening, she would have been driving the speed limit and paying attention to stop signs. Slamming on the brakes after realizing that you made an error and are going to smash into someone is not considered "attempting to stop the collision" from happening.
There's something called "personal responsibility", something it sounds like you need to learn about.
ShannonK and azsk6fan - It was an accident. I'm sure the driver is suffering for this and will always have to live with it. Give it a break.
I'm sure the driver is suffering for this. My comments were particularly aimed at her friend who chose this forum to attempt to offer excuses for her friend.
Thought you all would like to know the rules from the Nevada driver's license handbook for drivers under 18 years of age:
-For 6 months after a Nevada Driver's License is issued, teen drivers may not transport any passengers under 18 years of age, unless that passenger is an immediate family member.
-Until a teen driver turns 18 years old, they are not permitted to drive between 10pm and 5am unless they are traveling to or from their place of employment or a school event.
Therefore, the 17 year old driver of this accident was driving illegally as are most of these teenagers on the roads at night. If the law was enforced, and parents were responsible, perhaps we would have less dead people on our streets!
Look, to those of you that are trying to defend the teenage driver:
I am very sickened by this event, do you know why? Thats becasue the couple that died in the incident happened to be close to my family and to myself. I dont think you realize the suffuring we are currently going through of not only one persons life, but two. The 3 other people in the car were visiting the 2 from cali. How do you think they feel? Coming to visit from another state to get into an car crash and realize your dearest friends are now dead? What happens to them?
And to christal877, i am very outraged about what you have to say about this accident. Why on earth would they run a stop sign on a little street like Erva to cross a major street like Spring Mountain? I feel like the driver of the vechical had no initiative to look both ways before running through that little street.
Now what do you say to my parents that are balling there eyes out for the whole day? Sorry? You think thats going to cut it? They were such a loving and dear family, you have no idea.
Rest in peace, Rest in peace.
Everyone makes mistakes but come on, you have to be an idiot to blow straight through a stop sign on a side street, across a major road.
"She was speeding,which was wrong but I know that she'd never intentionally harm ANYONE because she's not that kind of person".
**************
By the simple fact she KNEW she was speeding and also not paying attention so she blew the stop sign, the possibility of causing an accident with fatal results was very high. So don't try the "she wouldn't intentionally harm" anyone because she was doing just that by speeding and ignoring the stop sign!! Now two people are dead because of her inability to drive safely and within the law.
" It was an accident. I'm sure the driver is suffering for this and will always have to live with it. Give it a break".
It is NOT an accident if someone knowingly is speeding and ignores a stop sign!!!!! The people who died were in an accident but not the teenaged girl who caused it. She knowingly was breaking the law on both counts and that my friend is NOT an accident. She'll have plenty of time to refect on her errors in judgment....
And please FOUR female teenagers in a car???? Yeah, right I bet the driver was paying attention to what she was doing......
The driver was speeding and caused an accident .. WOW.. I bet that she is the 1st person in Las Vegas that has done this.. how do I know this?
Because of all the goody two shoes on here that are preaching the gospel to her friend... but .. How come I can drive the posted speed limit anytime anyplace in LV and get passed by EVERYONE of EVERY AGE?
Is my speedometer faulty?
Were not saying it was becasue of the speed but the fact that she blew the stop sign. If she didnt do that nothing bad would have happened. Do you realize how much crap were going though now just casue she blew the stop sign? There family, our family, everyone that knows them? Speed may not be a factor, but not stoping at the stop sign is just calling for somthing terrible to happen.
People need to relieze that when they get behind the wheel of any car,truck its more than just that, it is also a leathal weapon that can cause havok! Following all the rules,and obeying all the speed limits insures everyone some sort of safety.The law does state anyone under age 18 can have a passenger only when they are a family member,and can only drive between set hrs! When she signed her license she agreed to these terms,and now must pay for her actions! Just to give a bit of advice,in this town,we all know that there will be some sort of cone zone along our travels so give yourself an min or 2 extra? Also another thing,if you do happen to get stuck in traffic,theres that thing called a radio, who cares if you have to sit through 2 songs..............
I used to live at Spring Mountain/Ft. Apache in the Apache Springs townhomes there. People speed in this area all the time. There are pedestrians crossing and constant traffic up and down Spring Mountain at all times of the day and night, as well as the cross streets. Crossing Erva across Spring Mountain is a crap shoot, best to cross when there is no East-West traffic at all. The media needs to give the names of the minors as well, they don't need protecting since they are old enough to drive and know better. Also,--"As a result of the crash, the Hyundai also struck a 2002 Saturn stopped at a stop sign south of Spring Mountain. The driver of the Saturn, Yong Burnett, 29, of Las Vegas, suffered minor injuries, police said,"-- the driver of the Neon had to be going extremely fast to hit the Hyundai and the Hyundai to hit the Saturn stopped at the stop sign. This is why insurance rates are so high for teen drivers.
Yankee54 - It does say the young girl was speeding and ran a stop sign so of course that is breaking the law. However she was driving at 6p.m and that was legal. And she was 17 so it is quite possible she's been driving longer than 6 months and can have others under 18 in her car legally. No need to pile on with false information.
My prayers go out to you kev5678, and the families that suffered this horrible loss. Christal877 and westvegas you couldn't be more wrong. Christal, people like you are the very reason things like this happen. Since you know this girl, it seems like you have been a bad influence and enabler when she does wrong, which is probably how she got so careless. How dare you come on this website and defend her erroneous actions! How do you know whether or not she actually tried to stop? Are you the one who "taught" her how to drive?? As kev said, these people are gone - it's over for them, whatever they had planned for themselves will never happen. How dare this girl endanger the lives of the other girls in the car with her and why weren't you there to advise her to drive carefully instead of getting on here and making excuses! This girl's carelessness caused two deaths but she is still alive, even in her wrong she still has a chance at life! Thank God no more people died! Westvegas you're just as bad - how dare you tell someone to "give it a break" when the most precious of God's creations is gone! You're obviously a very callous person with no regard for human life.
Thank you celestjo, finally someone with some careness in the world! Seriously Christal or Westvegas, how would you like it if your parents or YOUR own friends got hit becasue some carless teamagers ran through a stop sign and killed 2 of them? They were such a heartwhelming couple, and how dare you say to give it a break? How can we give it a break? Look how much damage this has caused. Three cars, 8 injured. You think thats acceptable? Think with your head, please.
Sunvisitor-
I did not give false information, nor to pile on. Thought everyone should at least have the facts. I merely cited the rules from the NV Driver's Handbook.
Most likely those who break driving laws, however, are not above not heeding to driver laws in general, especially when teenagers are involved.
And also, girls are usually more careful than boys as far as speeding goes, but when there is a car full of teenagers the chances are good that not a heck of a lot of good will happen.
To the person who is the close friend, keep in mind that my mother and I were closer friends. The two elderly couple were like family to my mother and I and honestly they will be missed greatly. Although i cannot say that forgiveness is in my heart for your friend, considering the fact that whenever you get behind the wheel you have to keep in mind that there are others on the road other then you. My mother would hold meetings for the Taiwanese community and they were always there to help those in need. It is sad to think that two great and wonderful people who still had so much fire in their lives had to have the rest of their adventure cut short due to carelessness of one person. The blame will be weighed upon those who are guilty. That alone will be enough for me, that the person in question will have weight of the death of two people who dedicated their lives to bettering the community around them.
If my mother is speaking at their funeral, then i dont know how much closer you can be with them.
AS THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE INJURED TEENS:
The Driver deserves to pay for her mistake, she wants to act like an adult therefore she needs to pay the price as an adult. MY DAUGHTER was in INTENSIVE CARE with brain damage for 7 DAYS!!!! As a result she went from an all A student to failing the 10th grade. Due to the care she needed I lost my job and she now needs years of therapy to re train her brain. Feel sorry for the driver who was careless??? Try feeling sorry for the families whose lifes were completly ruined due to the neglegence of an unexperienced teenage driver! Where's our sympathy??????
AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH:
Everyone makes mistakes and yes it was a tragedy for the people who lost family members, but still.
AS YOUR DAUGHTERS EX BEST FRIEND:
Yes she did get hurt in the accident and I'm sorry for that, but she does not need "YEARS" of therapy as I personally know this because I hung out with her after the crash and she was perfectly fine. No signs of brain damage shown. She can talk just like she used to, she can do EVERYTHING that she used to do as well as she could do it before. Running jumping climbing singing dancing joking around was NOT a complication at all.
As far as you losing your job, that was a result of you breaking your arm.
She was not "careless" it was a mistake, like I said before. Its no like we were driving at 70 mph blasting music and swerving. The driver is a very careful driver, she is not unexperienced..
Thanks for your time.
To all...the driver in this accident is a family member...although u all think you know what happened you truly don't. They have yet to prove if she actually was speeding. Yes two people have died and our condolences go out to your family. She tried to press the brakes but did it work? See everyone is quick to judge her but you all weren't there in that moment. I truly believe that yes it falls upon the parents and their judgements in this case the driver has lost her father in front of her eyes so she does know the experience of what it feels like to love someone so much and it be taken away. All i ask is to please don't judge unless you know the whole TRUTH to the story. To the mother of the injured teen DETROIT71 do you realize that you are making comments but why did you allow your daughter to be involved??? So i guess as a parent you are also to blame for allowing your child to get into a car with a 17 year old driver. The bottom line is she is a very good person and she does feel really bad and wished it was her that died but we can't change what happened! Never judge anyone unless you know the absolute FACTS! To the driver just remember we love you always no matter what!
Okay. to everyone that has commented on this. I was in the accident. I know first hand. I am so sorry for the people who have lost their loved ones due to this. it was horrible. but, she was speeding. there weren't ANY drugs OR alcohol involved. I do believe something should happen. I am not saying Jail time. but whatever needs to happen will happen. Once again I am so sorry for the lost loved ones that were involved in this accident.
And as Katherinel.'s EX BEST FRIEND.
I do need years and years of therapy. just because we don't have the money to pay for it now doesn't mean anything. I need it. Don't feel bad for yourself. there is nothing wrong with you. she is sticking up for the driver because she is dating her. what about the families? they don't care. they just want the driver to be okay. I feel for those families and I am deeply sorry. and I want them to know I pray everyday. and I feel great sympathy for you. I am sorry for being a part of it.
Does anyone know this 17 year old HAD NO LICENSE??? How is it that no one cares about the teen who was in ICU for a week with brain damage from this accident?? The driver needs to take full and complete responsibility for what she has done, A car is NOT a toy, it is a responsibility and privilage.
The hearing is this week and I will be attending to assure this driver at least learned her lesson! How dare anyone stick up for an unlicensed speeding driver that severely injured one teen and killed two innocent people.
People with brain damage are able to do things normally, the brain is sensitive and reacts in odd ways. According to the Doctors (the ones who actually attendend medical school) brain bruising takes time to heal and so does the front brain damange. If you are not with a brain damage patient 24/7, there is a chance you won't see the changes.
Remember Natashia Richardson?
And anyone who kills another human being needs to learn their lesson one way or another, wether it was on purpose or not, it is still murder.