Woman stopped at red light dies in three-car crash

Police say the victim was a passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended

Sunday, March 8, 2009 | 3:05 p.m.

Fatal crash

UPDATED STORY: Passenger who died in car stopped at red light identified

A Henderson woman stopped at a red light in the eastern Las Vegas Valley was killed this morning when another vehicle slammed into the back of the car she was riding in.

Metro Police responded at 9:05 a.m. to the crash on Boulder Highway at its intersection with Russell Road. Investigators said a 2003 Toyota Avalon northbound on Boulder Highway in the center travel lane rear-ended a 2008 Hyundai Tucson stopped at a red light in the center northbound lane.

The collision forced the Hyundai to roll onto its passenger side and come to rest upright in the intersection, investigators said.

The passenger in the Hyundai, a 45-year-old Henderson woman, was taken to Sunrise Hospital's trauma unit, where she was pronounced dead. The victim's name wasn't being released this afternoon.

The driver of the Hyundai, Timothy Fletcher, 48, of Henderson, suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota, Karen Jaco, 53, of Henderson, suffered moderate injuries, police said.

The Toyota also struck a 2004 Chevrolet Venture stopped at the red light in the right northbound travel lane. The driver, Sharon Murray, 64, of Las Vegas, suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

This is the 14th traffic fatality this year in Metro Police jurisdiction. The accident is under investigation.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By Mandy

3/9/09 at 7:37 a.m.

Suggest removal

Sad, so sad. Let me guess - The passenger was wearning no seatbelt.
By goingbust

3/9/09 at 1:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hyundai

Enough said.
By john86zz

3/9/09 at 11:41 p.m.

Suggest removal

drunk
By azsk8fan

3/10/09 at 8:51 a.m.

Suggest removal

That's gotta be a helluva hit for a vehicle that's sitting still to be flipped over like that. I wonder if it being an SUV was a factor or whether it was just a real hard hit? I wouldn't doubt that the driver of the other car was on the cell phone - I see it time after time all day long where I work - hardly any car pulling in that ISN'T on the cell phone - it's like it's the 2nd ignition - key in ignition and phone in ear and then car will go.