Man arrested for DUI in fatal collision with motorcycle

By Mary Manning (contact), Tim Richardson (contact)

Published Saturday, March 14, 2009 | 11:21 p.m.

Updated Monday, March 16, 2009 | 2:22 p.m.

Fatal crash

A man suspected of driving under the influence struck and killed a motorcyclist Saturday evening in the eastern Las Vegas Valley, Metro Police said.

Police said a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup truck was westbound on Tropicana Avenue turning to go left onto Titanium Avenue when it struck the left side of an eastbound 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle during the turn. The motorcyclist, 53-year-old James Corrao of Las Vegas, was ejected and landed in a parking lot on the southeast corner of the intersection, police said.

The Clark County Coroner's Office said Corrao died of multiple injuries from the collision.

A woman following the motorcycle on a 2005 Harley-Davidson laid her bike down to avoid striking the vehicle, police said. The woman, identified as Deborah Carrao, 47, of Las Vegas, and James Corrao were taken to Sunrise Hospital for treatment, where James Corrao was pronounced dead.

Deborah Carrao suffered minor injuries, police said.

The driver of the pickup truck, 52-year-old Carlow Henriquez of Las Vegas, tried to leave the scene but was detained about a block from the crash, where his vehicle struck a fence, police said. The crash occurred at 6:22 p.m.

Henriquez was arrested for felony DUI with death, felony hit and run involving death, unsafe lane change and having an open container in his vehicle, records from the Clark County Detention Center said.

This is the 18th fatal crash this year in Metro Police jurisdiction, and it was the second fatal crash in the valley Saturday involving a driver suspected of being under the influence. Before 7 a.m. Saturday, a 22-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a crash that killed a bicyclist on the Las Vegas Strip.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By torn

3/15/09 at 8:20 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By greengables713

3/16/09 at 10:41 a.m.

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Drunk Drivers come with assorted names, in assorted colors...different shapes, sizes, genders, occupational backgrounds,financial abilities and zip codes...
There are many faces to "The Drunken Driver" and though in this case the person had a Spanish name, he is no worse than any other drunk driver.
Too many people are killed each day, too many lives destroyed, to many broken hearts are left behind by this array of people who for no other reason than being selfish take to the road with an equally lost selfish agenda.
I was told about this tragic accident by my husband who was a friend of the man who was killed. My husband reminisced about his friend and spoke of how his friend had twinkle in his eyes, and a deep love for God. How his friend was a joy to know and be around. He spoke of his friend with such love and respect. My son went to school briefly with one of this mans boys..and equally, my son had all good things to say about this young man. I met his wife briefly and she was very gracious to me when my son was sick in NV due to asthma, I had only known her via this personal experience, and to this day I will never forget her and her kindness to me and my son. She was deeply concerned, and offered herself to be a help in any way she could. One of her boys delivered the medication to us at the hotel we we staying at. I can do nothing else for the moment but pray that the Lord will lead them to peace in a time that lends no understanding.
As for the man who took little consideration of the consequences of driving drunk..well, to him I pray that he will be dealt with according to the laws of this land, which need to be drastically changed with regard to DUI, and more importantly be dealt with according to the laws of God..that his life will be forever changed as he has forever changed the lives of others.
When will people learn that there is consequence to every action be it good or bad..Life is difficult enough even under the best of circumstances, why do some make it so much harder? This I will never understand..
The human desires of man are our biggest demise..
Well, I pray for all the broken hearts..because in the end it is only God that can bring peace and change to the selfish desires of man. It is only a willing heart to submit to God that can mend the broken lives of man. Run if you will, but His truth will always prevail.
This is in not meant to be the "Sermon on the Mount"..Just my way of saying how deeply sorry I am for yet another loss of life, and for the continued trail of pain that will follow when we act upon human desires.
In the wise words of my Grandmother who's only son was killed at the age of 32 by a drunken driver, leaving behind a wife and four children many years ago.."God Help us and Save us"
Debbie Santamaria/ Hazzard
By noelverzosa

3/16/09 at 5 p.m.

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As a transplanted New Yorker - I moved to Henderson in 2002 - I find driving in the Las Vegas are very nerve-wracking and extremely dangerous. When you leave for work in the morning there is a very good chance you might not make it back home alive.

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