Print
E-mail
Share
digg
Newsvine
Facebook
Stumble
Technorati
reddit
Fark
twitterLaw enforcement:
10-month-old boy critical after alleged DUI, hit-and-run wreck
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 | 5:50 a.m.
Alleged DUI/hit and run
A 10-month-old boy was critically injured when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a suspected drunken driver shortly after midnight today in the eastern Las Vegas Valley, Metro Police said.
The accident was one of two serious crashes police investigated in the eastern valley. Hours earlier, a 33-year-old Las Vegas man died when his vehicle struck a wall at Nellis Boulevard and Marion Drive.
In the most recent crash, Vickie Duran, 41, of Las Vegas, is being held on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run after being arrested a short distance from the scene of the accident at Nellis Boulevard and New World Avenue.
According to police, a 1999 Honda Accord driven by Claudia Zepeda, 38, of Las Vegas, was southbound on Nellis after just turning left from New World when the Toyota struck it in the rear, propelling it in a southeast direction across the northbound lanes.
The Toyota then left the scene but witnesses to the accident detained Duran a short distance later, police said.
Zepeda suffered minor injuries in the wreck; police said the infant was being treated for life-threatening injuries at University Medical Center. Neither Duran nor a 9-year-old boy who was a passenger in Duran’s 2003 Toyota Sequoia was injured, police said.
In a separate accident, a 33-year-old Las Vegas man died Friday evening after he lost control of his vehicle and struck a concrete block wall near Nellis Air Force Base, police said.
Single-vehicle fatal crash
At about 8:37 p.m., a 2006 Dodge Stratus was traveling westbound on Lake Mead Boulevard near its intersection with Marion Drive when it attempted to pass a slower vehicle. As the driver completed the passing maneuver, he lost control and began a clockwise rotation across the center and right westbound lanes, police said, then left the roadway on the north side of Lake Mead and struck a wall before rolling onto the driver’s side.
The man was taken to UMC where he died shortly before 2 a.m. today.
Police said speeding likely caused the accident.
The man’s identity will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office. His death is the 72nd traffic-related fatality this year in Metro Police’s jurisdiction.
Discussion: 31 comments so far…
Post a comment
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Police arrest 2 more in fatal shooting of Metro officer
- Illness theory gaining ground for gambling addiction
- At CityCenter, it’s not your usual uniforms for workers
- Rebels wake up Sunday with top RPI
- Carl Icahn offers $156 million for Fontainebleau, outbids Penn National
- Ex-ACORN official gets probation for voter registration plan
- Woman dies in house fire in western valley
- UFC 106 walk-in music: Griffin changes his tune, secures win over Ortiz
- Despite economy, swank of lawmaker’s fundraisers not in recession
- Vegas-based Majestic Star Casino seeks bankruptcy
Blogs
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond within reach of Dancing With the Stars victory
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Doug Hampton's 15 minutes go national: "Nightline" transcript (4 Comments)
Elsewhere
Spike TV confirms Kimbo on TUF Finale (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
DWTS Finale: Top three couples perform three dances
High School Sports Scene
How Gorman saved the school district thousands
Politics: Ralston's Flash
GOP consultants Rogich, Ernaut back Democratic AG's re-election (6 Comments)
Audio: Ex-Gov. Bob List accuses Harry Reid of "abuse of power" on health care (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
-
Thanks-Spinning with Z-Trip at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Food Drive at Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Surfer Blood with ACoSA at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Ladies night at Feelgoods
Feelgoods
-
Canned food drive at Pure
PURE | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Why wasn't a 10 month old at home in bed at 12:00 am at night?
I see this all the time in Vegas. People taking their young children to a movie at 10pm or 11pm.
It is crazy. A 10 month old should have been in bed at that time of night. No excuses.
With Nevada unemployment on the rise and so many being unemployed, drinking and driving is on the rise and with our drunk driving laws and the punishment that follows or lack thereof, this is going to occur more often as our economy continues the downward spiral.
Hopefully Metro steps up patrol in and around the Taverns and the courts impose harsher penalties including jail sentences so people who choose to drink and drive receive harsher sentences.
Not to mention, nailing more drunk drivers does increase the revenue to our budget problems, this would create more income than the traffic violations they've increased over the last year.
Hey Sufferin?...why don't you get out of your little world?...there are many reasons to be on the road in this 24-hour town...not the least is that perhaps she had just finished working and was picking her son up from a caregiver...or perhaps she needed a prescription filled...or perhaps she just dropped someone at the airport...or...or...or...or...jeesshhh...Sufferin?...go back in your hole and close the door...jeeessshhh...
It's all good; the driver ONLY has to convert to the 12-Step Religious cult, conjure up his "Higher Power" and have his "Higher Power" sprinkly that One-Day-at-a-Time magic dust on him and EVERYTHING IS FINE AND DANDY & everyone is happy, even the little baby-boy WHO IS A VEG FOR LIFE!
Remember people, the Court & Judges mandates the 12-Step Religious cult conversion which says "The driver has ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OVER ALCOHOL & is NOT RESPONSIBLE for his actions; it's all turned over to the "Higher Power", who is to blame!
There are completely drunk drivers on Las Vegas's roads 24/7....YOU PARENTS HAVE BEEN WARNED!
If the driver is found, the prison sentence is used, not for punishment, but for THERAPEUTIC SPIRITUAL reasons, like introducing him to his new MANDATORY RELIGION: The 12-Step Religious Cult, which he'll be required to convert to. Isn't this wonderful? He'll be sitting in AA/NA meetings for the rest of his life; conjuring up the "Higher Power", doing magic tricks daily, qualifying for massive taxpayer funded programs due to his "DISEASE" that is 100% controlled by the "Higher Power", no real doctors or real medical staff required for this "DISEASE"!
There's no need to oversimplify the 12-step programs or to blame them in this scenario. It may well be that the courts are negligent if the ONLY sentence given is to attend AA. But don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Nowhere in 12-step literature does it say that a person is not responsible for their actions. Quite the contrary. If you would actually read the literature, you would see that it entails considerable self-examination AND appropriate actions to begin to behave properly and responsibly. The only thing that's being said is that alcoholism (drug addiction, etc.) cannot merely be willed away, any more than a diabetic can merely will the disease to stop. But the diabetic IS responsible for taking treatments, eating properly, etc. And so is the alcoholic (etc.) responsible for following the proper courses of treatment. Nowhere does a 12-step program say "god sprinkles magic fairy dust and you are now no longer accountable for anything." Now, does everyone who works a 12-step program actually adhere to that program? Undoubtedly not. But then again, there are a host of religions and other spiritual programs out there where people fail to meet expectations. You need to separate the program from the person who tries to follow it. And again, I do agree that if ALL the courts do is say "go to AA," then that is way off base and will not solve any problems. But at least first please become educated on what it is you're criticizing. One can just as readily say "those crazy Christians believe that just by eating a magic piece of bread, all their sins will be forgiven." I suspect most people would find that to be a gross oversimplification, no?
My aunt was the person in the car accident. She actually was getting out of work and had just picked up her son from the sitter. She is a single mom and has to work long hours. I just wanted to set the facts straight for those who are quick to make assumptions.
egomez: And, unfortunately, there does not seem to be a shortage of people in this town who make quick assumptions. I'm amazed at how many "guilty until proven innocent" mentalities speak in these blogs. I hope nephew makes a full recovery and that your aunt will be okay.
Teaser, the 12-Step Religious Cult's witchcraft & sorcery HAVE NO BUSINESS AT ALL being in the court system. And the court systems make-believe "It's a disease" nonsense needs to go too!
I find it pathetic that the victim in this hit and run is being accused of being a bad parent. As a mother of a three month old, there are plenty of reasons that one could be out that late at night. The baby could have been sleeping in the backseat. Egomez should not have had to come here to defend why the 10 month old boy was "out so late".
I hope the boy recovers quickly and that the woman who hit this innocent family will be jailed. Nevada needs to toughen up their DUI laws.
The mother could have one very good reason to be out at that time of night: SHE FELT LIKE IT the ONLY reason she needs. She is the parent she raises her kids.
Mothers that work Las Vegas's DEAD-END Min-Wage Service Industry jobs work at all hours of the day, thus transporting their kids to child-care at all hours of the day. YES, there are kids being baby-sat at midnight hours!
This town needs an active Mayor who cares about Las Vegas residents. I have never known politicions who care less about quality of life laws for the people who live in Las Vegas than the one's in power now. Rudy G. cleaned up New York, he cared. Who cares a damn about you?
@rejco100...
I agree completely that drunk driving is inexcusable in every way!!! But dude what are you smokin that's got you all wacked out with the 12-step religious cult blather????
You also have to realize there are 24hr daycares in this town. Wake up people and smell those casino's they do function 24hrs.I hope mom and baby will recover quick.
SufferinSuccotash
I realize liberals hate freedom but the last time I checked, this is still a free country. There is no imposed curfew that I'm aware of. So until BO and his minions complete their demolition of the constitution, a mother can take her child out at night any D*** time she chooses.
What's AA got to do with this?
The 12 step method is meant to stop people drinking, or did no one mention that?
Blake why would you say liberals hate freedom? Check my earlier post.
When will our useless law enforcers get off their collective dead arses and start mandating that casinos enforce the Alcohol Awareness policies? Park a black and white at any casino exit and I wager that 50% of those leaving the casinos (other than employees) are under the influence.
I work with the mother of the child, she was indeed on her way home from work. So some of you should really think before making ignorant comments as to why she had her child in the car.
I hope a miracle happen. Snap out of it little man!!!!
lcr, It's forced RELIGION on people by courts & poverty programs for the poor; "CAME TO BELIEVE..." that's religious conversion, that's what I'm against: FORCED!. If someone wants to spend 24/7/365 going to 12-Step Religious Cult meetings, conjuring up their "Higher Power", doing the 12-Step wiggle, blabbing "One-Day-at-a-Time" all day long, by all means knock yourself out...enjoy
STOP the drinking parents and get your kids home by 9 PM.
Your behaviors are dangerous because of the drunks blaming unemployment. Check the booze prices, I doubt they are all broke, just drunk and poor parents.
Poor excuses for adults, that is all..
I just want to say that I know the mother of this child and she is a very hard worker and she loves her children very much. She would never do anything to put her kids in danger. She is in a lot of pain as of right now and her pain is a pain that none of us will understand. For the person who made the comment about her having her son outside shame on you!!! You are the most self centered person I've ever met. What can you do when you are a single mom and you work long hours and have no choice but to have your kids in childcare.
Tragic. Poor kid.
I agree completely with mommyof2babies! There are MANY woman out there doing the best they can for their children with no partner to help them. Las Vegas is a 24/7 town, 12am is the same as 12pm here!! So the comment by SufferinSuccotash about the child being out so late, yes a normal child with a 9-5 mommy and daddy should be in bed, but a child with a 3-11 or 4-12 average swing shift job mother, would be heading home from daycare or the babysitters at 12am! This child is in my prayers and i hope for a speedy recovery for his ENTIRE FAMILY! himself and his MOTHER!
God Bless
Hang in there little guy,we still need you here!!!Hope the drunk gets what she deserves!
Suffering Succotash: How dare you pass judgment on someone you don't even know!! Claudia is my cousin, and she's a single mom working hard to provide for her family. She had just finished her shift at work and had picked up the baby from the sitter. Not all of us have the luxury of being "stay at home moms", and with her wages, she cannot afford 24 hour day care. I can't even imagine the pain that my cousin is suffering right this minute. The baby did not survive his injuries. Fortunately for Claudia, we have a large and close knit family and she and her daughter are being well looked after, thank God that you're not part of this family, but I would not know that for certain, since you don't sign you real name on your comments; on top of being judgmental, you're a coward. Next time you voice your opinion on anything, I recommend that you do some research and not continue to make a jackass of yourself!
I am so sad for the mother of that poor, precious, baby. What a waste! I so hope the driver gets help. She needs it.. she has needed it for a long time. My thoughts are with the innocent family that is suffering so badly right now and I hope they find peace. I also hope the kids and family of the driver come to grips with this. She really loves her kids too and I know she will be devastated when she sobers up and realizes the outcome of all of this. Some of the comments about this were so cold-heartedly shocking. I hope we have not got that desensitized in this society!