Las Vegas Sun

November 22, 2009

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Man dies after losing control of vehicle on Bonanza

By Sun Staff (contact)

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 | 6:52 a.m.

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A Las Vegas man is dead after losing control of his vehicle near Bonanza Road and Apache Lane, police said.

The accident occurred about 11:30 p.m. Friday when the man, driving a 2000 Dodge Neon, used the center turn lane on Bonanza to pass slower traffic. Upon re-entering the travel lanes, authorities say, the driver lost control of his vehicle, colliding with a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado truck. The driver of the truck, Alexis Lopez, 19, temporarily lost control of the vehicle but was able to come to a stop. Lopez and passenger Ivan Cisneros, 17, were uninjured, reports indicate.

The Dodge ran over the curb, hitting a light pole, fire hydrant and a fence.

Several bystanders pulled the driver from the Dodge until medical personnel arrived, police said. He was transported to University Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries. Police are withholding identification until the next of kin are notified.

This is the 69th traffic fatality in Metro’s jurisdiction this year. The collision remains under investigation.

Discussion: 31 comments so far…

  1. By unclegig
    10/10/09 at 7:56 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    My thoughts and prayers are with his family but I see a lot of these stupid driving all over the city. Some drivers are so impatient and do unsafe driving maneuvers just to pass one vehicle. Metro should check if alcohol or drugs are involved.

  2. By thekube
    10/10/09 at 9:11 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Can't get anywhere fast if you're dead. "Haste makes waste." Never more truer than in Las Vegas.

  3. By JSpence07
    10/10/09 at 10:23 a.m.

    Comment removed by staff.

  4. By Lenny_V
    10/10/09 at 11:56 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Ya can't disagree with JSpence. It's hard to feel sorry for an idiot that did it to himself, glad he didn't take anyone with him. Even worse than the turn lane passers are the right turners from the center lane (never seen that anywhere in the country but Vegas) or the creme de la creme, the right turners from the left lane (of a three lane road). There's some real geniuses driving around this town.

  5. By stevem
    10/10/09 at 12:40 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    it also freaking drives me crazy when someone is trying to turn left onto a busy street from a store and instead of waiting for 30 seconds to turn into the travel lane, they turn into that center lane and drive for 100 feet at 10 miles per hour and block that lane for everyone wanting to make a turn.

  6. By MooGooGaiDan
    10/10/09 at 1:54 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Hey stevem, turning into the center lane to wait for traffic to clear when making a left hand turn is legal as long as one doesn't travel more than 100 feet in the center lane. it's also much more efficient than having to wait for both directions of traffic to be open for the turn.

  7. By geisymc8
    10/10/09 at 3:26 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Hello, This a good good friend of the family and you guys disgust me.None of you guys have any idea what the hell she is feeling and your comments only hurt her more.We are nobody to say who deserves what in life.

  8. By LasVegas2009
    10/10/09 at 4:08 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    MooGooGaiDan: It is NOT legal now nor has it ever been!

  9. By onerare1
    10/10/09 at 8:51 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Wheither he deserves it or not, It was a moronic move and he deserves it. Just be happy that he did not kill 2 more with a stupid move like that.If he did, How do you think the family of the other 2 guys would feel at this moment.

  10. By DS
    10/10/09 at 9:43 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    One less moron on the street putting my loved ones lives at risk.

  11. By Phargo
    10/10/09 at 10:42 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    everyone is in a guddam hurry. what's the rush fer crissakes! leave 10 minutes early, quit hittin' the snooze button.

  12. By nvwilnd
    10/10/09 at 10:59 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    By JSpence07
    By Lenny_V
    By onerare1
    By DS
    By Phargo

    All great comments....What was said was the truth, nothing more - nothing less.

    By geisymc8

    Sorry for your loss...and to "her" if she has time to be reading "comments" after someone dies....that is just weird, Sorry - the truth again...

    As for the people who drive like asses in Vegas, and something like this happens, it is no suprise. Glad no one else was hurt!!

  13. By rip101009
    10/10/09 at 11:11 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOUR SELF!
    specially you:
    STEVEM, DS, onerare1, Lenny_V, JSpence7, thekube, unclegig!!!
    Because you never know, that could of been YALL morons or a family member.
    Apparently they didn't educate YALL or teach YALL how to respect.
    But what can we expect of idiots, stupid, morons like YALL!!!!
    Just thank GOD it wasn't YALL, respect our loved one.
    And for those that didn't talk bad, thank you for showing your respect, the family appreciates it.
    REMEMBER YOU AIN'T NOBODY BUT NOBODY TO JUDGE, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE HIM.
    And like I said if you are going to write bad things about our loved one.
    DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME.
    KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOUR SELF!!!!

    THANK YOU!!!!

  14. By rip101009
    10/10/09 at 11:18 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    THIS GOES FOR YOU TOO PHARGO AND NVWiLND
    AND DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE FAMILY DOES AFTER THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS NO ONE WILL TALK BAD ABOUT A LOVED ONE THAT HAS PASSED AWAY IN OUR LIFE CAUSE THAT IS JUST DISRESPECT AND NON EDUCATED. SO WORRY ABOUT YOUR SELF AND HOPE YALL AINT NEXT. I DONT THINK YALL WOULD APPRECIATE US TALKING NONSENSE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY. SO LIKE I SAID KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOUR SELF.

  15. By rip101009
    10/10/09 at 11:22 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    WE LOVE YOU &
    WE WILL MISS YOU
    ALWAYS IN OUR HEART &
    IN OUR MIND.

    WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE
    NOW, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.

    WE LOVE YOU.

  16. By NeedleGuy
    10/10/09 at 11:24 p.m.

    Comment removed by staff.

  17. By NeedleGuy
    10/10/09 at 11:26 p.m.

    Comment removed by staff.

  18. By Lenny_V
    10/10/09 at 11:47 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Nobody is saying they don't feel sorry for the family but YOU'RE AN IDIOT TO USE THE TURN LANE TO PASS SOMEONE. If it gets you killed it doesn't make you any less of an idiot, in fact the opposite is achieved. Once again, nobody wanted the guy to die but it is a relief the idiot didn't take anyone with him. As far as being next, I can't speak for anyone else here but I have no intention of using the turn lane as a passing lane.

  19. By Seriously
    10/11/09 at 5:35 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    I feel bad for this guys family, however, this happens over and over again because so many people out here

    ARE IN A BIG HURRY TO GO NOWHERE!

    People that drive like a-holes eventually get whats coming to them. Its called "natural selection" natures way of thinning out the herd. Stupid people do stupid things and get themselves killed.

  20. By Phargo
    10/11/09 at 6:02 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    rip101009.. what is that? your cell block number?
    everybody here respects the parents of the deceased, we're talking to the mentally deficient like YOU!

  21. By odog
    10/11/09 at 8:16 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    rip101009

    Respect is earned not a right. My condolences to his family and friends. That being said, his death is a consequence of his negligent and stupid actions. I also am thankful that the only life lost was his instead of the innocent victims of his actions.

  22. By Burrittobandit2
    10/11/09 at 10:05 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Somebody could have used drivers ed.

  23. By geenab65
    10/11/09 at 10:46 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    I don't think there is a single person on this posting site that has not done something illegal while driving (and yes, not using your turn signal to change lanes DOES count as something illegal). Luckily, none of us died as a consequence of that cause nor did anyone else. Guess what? This young man made a stupid judgment call and it, unfortunately, cost him his life.

    Stop the hypocrisy and be thankful you're all still here!!!

  24. By spock
    10/11/09 at 3:21 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Iv'e been driving legally since I was 15 years old and have made many mistakes.That being said,To watch some of these drivers pass in the center AND on the shoulder with no reguard to public safety is remarkable . It seems that for some reason the lack of respect for the automobile and the damage it can inflict is a primary factor for such maneuvers.It's amazing how the human body can withstand so much yet be so fragile. GOD bless this man and his family,Now there are 69 reason's to take it easy on the roadway's

  25. By rip101009
    10/11/09 at 3:22 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OF IGNORANT PEOPLE THAT COME TO A NEWS WEBSITE TO TALK MESS ABOUT A PERSON THATS GONE. YEA I UNDERSTAND MAYBE HE DID MAKE A MISTAKE BUT ONCE AGAIN WHO SAYS NOBODY DOES? WHO SAID SOMBODY WAS PERFECT? AINT NOBODY PERFECT IN THIS WORLD OTHER THAN GOD. AND HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN JUDGE US. WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YALL WOULD STOP TALKING NONSENSE ABOUT A PERSON THAT ISN'T HERE NO MORE. IM VERY HAPPY IT WASNT ONE OF YOUR MISTAKES OR YOUR FAMILIES CAUSE I BET ANYTHING THAT IF IT WAS A FAMILY MEBER OR A FRIEND YOU WOULDNT WANT PEOPLE WRITING DUMB THINGS LIKE THIS SO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOUR SELF.

  26. By tomslick
    10/11/09 at 3:58 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    I see drivers engaging in this aggressive and irresponsible "passing" tactic frequently.

    Hopefully the tragic loss of life can serve as a lesson to others.

  27. By MooGooGaiDan
    10/11/09 at 9:27 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    LasVegas2009: Why would you even state your own misguided beliefs before you make sure it's fact? It IS legal and has been for quite a while.

    NRS 404.305 (c): A vehicle must not travel more than 50 feet in a center turn lane after making a left-hand turn onto the highway before merging with traffic.

    Ok, so I was wrong -- it's 50 feet, not 100. Oh, and before you dispute my reference, "highway" is the NRS term for road. So stop being a slow-down in traffic and begin using the center turn lane to enter traffic when safe.

  28. By rizzo1970
    10/12/09 at 12:10 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    My only question is why did he lose control?
    I've driven on ice, mud, gravel roads, and in down pouring rain at normal and high speed and have never lost control of a vehicle.
    Most of these driver's here don't and have never had control of there vehicles.

  29. By ls1
    10/12/09 at 4:35 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    the young man did not make a mistake but took a risk that did not pay off. whenever you drive a car,truck,or motorcycle, your faced with decisions every few minutes. whenever you loose respect for the other people on the road and place yourself ahead of them, you risk loosing your life or the life of your passengers or another driver.

  30. By FiremanFred
    10/12/09 at 8:47 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    First off, Driving is a privilege, not a right. Second, people should drive defensively, not offensively.

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