Man charged in crash that killed Rebel Girl released

By Jean Reid Norman

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 11:14 p.m.

UPDATE: Man charged in crash that killed Rebel Girl back behind bars

The man charged with driving under the influence in the death of UNLV Rebel Girl Lindsay Bennett was released from the Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday by a judge's order.

Vladimir Lagerev, 45, was released just before 5 p.m. on a court order from Justice Court Department 6, Metro Police spokesman Officer Jay Rivera confirmed. That is the courtroom of Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle, who on Monday set bail for Lagerev on the felony DUI charge at $250,000 -- $50,000 more than prosecutors requested.

Oesterle was not available for comment on the reason for the order.

Lagerev's attorney Stephen Stein had not heard the news when he was reached.

He said he had not requested the release. A woman who answered Lagerev's home telephone would not comment.

Lagerev had the 0.20 blood alcohol level two hours after the crash April 15 that killed Bennett, 18, a 2008 Coronado High School graduate who was majoring in architecture at UNLV, Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said during the bail hearing. That is the equivalent of drinking 11 beers in one hour, Nelson said.

Police allege that Lagerev hit Bennett head-on about 9:30 p.m. while driving the wrong way on an offramp to Interstate 215 at Windmill Lane, according to an arrest report. Bennett died two days later at University Medical Center.