Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 | 3:15 p.m.
Boulder City Police reported this morning that a man had died as the result of a crash. This afternoon, police retracted that information and said the man is alive and being treated for his injuries.
Authorities had reported that Kentis Casto died in the three-vehicle crash on U.S. 93 that closed both southbound lanes. Boulder City Police then sent the following statement this afternoon:
"An earlier report today stated that Kentis Casto, age 44, the driver of a motorcycle in a three-vehicle crash on US 93 and Gingerwood, died late this morning when being transported from one hospital to another. THIS IS INCORRECT. CASTO IS ALIVE, and being treated for injuries sustained in this crash. The Boulder City Police Department sincerely apologizes for this incorrect information."
Casto is a safety officer and coordinator with both the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, said Andrew Munoz, a spokesman for the park service. He splits his time between the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and BLM duties.
Another driver involved in the wreck has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Speed and drugs are believed to be contributing factors in the crash that involved a white, four-door Oldsmobile Cutlass with severe damage to the rear, Casto's gold Honda motorcycle with minor damage and a white Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck with moderate front-end damage, police said.
Just before 6 a.m., Boulder City dispatchers received several calls about a vehicle crash with injuries on U.S. 93 at Gingerwood, police said. Officers closed the highway's southbound lanes.
Witnesses reported that the Chevy pickup truck was traveling south on U.S. 93 at a high rate of speed and failed to stay in its travel lane, police said. One witness told police that the tires of the pickup left the pavement. Witnesses also said the Oldsmobile entered the highway from a side road, where it was struck in the rear by the pickup truck.
The motorcycle Casto was driving was then struck and all three vehicles hit the center guardrail, police said.
The driver of the pickup, 21-year-old Bruce Beste, was arrested after being released from St. Rose Siena Hospital. He was charged with DUI-drugs with an accident, two counts of reckless driving, speeding, failing to maintain a travel lane and obstructing, police said.
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