Driver identified in suspected DUI crash that killed UNLV student

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 5:30 p.m.

UPDATED STORY: Hundreds mourn Rebel Girl killed in suspected DUI crash

The driver in a suspected DUI crash that killed an 18-year-old UNLV student has been identified as 45-year-old Vladimir Lagerev.

Lagerev was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of death from DUI alcohol, involuntary manslaughter and no proof of insurance, according to detention center records.

UNLV student Lindsay Mychael Bennett of Las Vegas died Friday after she was struck by a driver going the wrong way on the eastbound freeway onramp shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the 215 Beltway and Windmill Avenue.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Honea said Lagerev was taken to University Medical Center with injuries, then booked into the detention center on Thursday.

The coroner said Bennett's death was caused from several blunt force trauma injuries from the collision. She died of her injuries late Friday night, authorities said.

She would have turned 19 on Monday. Her former teammates from the Coronado High School dance team were spending the evening at her house with her family, marking her birthday, dance coach Ginger Rossiter said.

Bennett was captain of the dance team her junior and senior years, receiving a varsity letter in dance all four years, Rossiter said.

Bennett graduated with honors in 2008 and went on to UNLV, where she was a Rebel Girl. She was majoring in architecture at the university.

Services have been scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 130 N. Pecos Road, in Henderson.

Contributions in memory of Lindsay Bennett may be given to UNLV for the UNLV Foundation Scholarship Fund and sent to the UNLV Foundation, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 451006, Las Vegas, NV 89154-1006.

Donors should note that the gift is in memory of Lindsay Bennett.