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StumbleCoroner IDs woman in Laughlin casino crash; driver out of jail
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
A 2007 Pontiac Vibe is towed away from the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin after a 70-year-old man drove it through the front entrance, killing two and injuring six.
Published Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 | 11 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 | 3:12 p.m.
Walter McGie
The Clark County Coroner’s Office has identified one of two women who were killed in a Laughlin casino Wednesday after a man drove his car through the front entrance as 81-year-old Helen Hindmand of Lincoln, Neb.
The coroner’s office said Hindmand died of multiple blunt force injuries as a result of the crash.
Metro Police said the man drove a 2007 Pontiac Vibe at a high rate of speed into the front doors of the Edgewater Hotel & Casino, 2020 South Casino Drive, shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The car struck nine people inside the casino, killing two and injuring seven.
Officers arrested Walter McGie, 70, of Kelso, Wash., after the crash and charged him with two counts of felony reckless driving causing death. He was released late Wednesday from the local police lockup in Laughlin on $6,000 bail and scheduled for arraignment March 11 in Laughlin Justice Court.
Each charge carries a possible sentence of probation or one to six years in state prison.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office hasn't released the identity of the other woman, but police said they were both playing slot machines at the time of the crash.
Police said that alcohol and drugs didn't appear to be a factor in the crash.
A daughter of McGie says she's stunned to hear her father was driving the speeding vehicle.
Laura White of Portland, Ore., said Thursday that her father, Walter Melvin McGie Jr., is friendly and outgoing, and must be devastated to have been involved in the crash.
Police Detective William Redfairn says McGie told him he doesn't remember the crash.
Redfairn says a certified mechanic will check the 2007 Pontiac Vibe for mechanical problems.
Sun reporter Tiffany Gibson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Why would they let this guy out on bail? he killed two people and injured very seriously eight more, and caused tens of thousands possibly a million dollars in damage. The guy walks on bail? this guy needs to at least be admitted to a hospital foe a mental examination before he gets behind another wheel of a vehicle!
I agree on the mental evaluation which will never happen now that he's lawyered up and out on bail.
I simply don't understand how this could happen. Either there was a mechanical malfunction with the car...then obviously it could be an accident.
or this guy simply is not capable of being behind the wheel and should not have been driving. If that's the case, he has to go to jail and serve time and have his driving priveleges revoked for the rest of his life. I just can't imagine the relatives of these people being told their loved ones died playing at a slot machine because someone drove a car thru the casino. Not a heart attack, not a stroke, but a car driving thru the front door killed them!!
Unimaginable
Pontiac Vibe also known as Toyota Voltz.
In January 2010, Autoblog.com reported that the 2009 and 2010 model year Pontiac Vibes are also included in the 2010 Toyota vehicle recalls related to unintended acceleration due to shared components with the Toyota Matrix.
To the person that said they are sure he didn't mean to do it, don't be so sure. Its quite possible the driver was distraught over any aspect of life and did this intentionally. I'm not saying that is what happened, just saying its possible. People attempt to kill or injure themselves in many ways, often with no regard for the safety of others. I hope that's not what happened here, but it certainly will be under investigation as a possibility.
no matter if he ment to do it or not, he killed 2 people! anyones death, no matter what happen, is unexceptable and he should be jailed.
I hope the cops keep Jethro away from driving at least.
he looks like a teabagger on his way to searchlight to drool over sarah palin.
Dipstick - awesome post!
They arrested Santa Claus!
I was driving down the freeway and floored the throttle to pass a truck and my accelerator stuck wide open. The next thing I know, I'm doing a 100 miles an hour down the freeway standing on the brake peddle and trying not to ram the car ahead of me and still get into the right lane so I could turn off the engine. I knew that the second I turned off the ignition, I would lose my power brakes and power steering and if I turned the key too far , my steering would lock up. I ended up cutting several cars off getting to the right lane and the brakes were smoking real bad and fading fast by the time I got stopped. I feel lucky that I didn't kill someone else or myself. How would you react if the gas peddle suddenly went to the floor while driving in town and the car was accelerating even with your foot on the brake. Your probably doing 60-70 mph before you realize whats happening. So why don't you kind, intelligent individuals wait until the results of the mechanical tests are in before you decide that he's quilty because of his looks or facial expression or whatever reason you've picked.
This gentleman fainted while behind the wheel. I hope all of the families involved are doing ok, including his. A very sad accident.
Ok he crashed into edgewater wow I live in bullhead just a few miles across the river the snowbirds are known for this in our area 4 years ago a old woman ran threw the mall here they are a danger to everybody when you have no idea what is going on you dont belong behind the wheel i see the snowbirds everday cutting me off not looking crashing into people im sorry well too sorry for the others yeah shiskabobs you shouldnt have a license.
adamamuz,
Did you not read what ls1 wrote? Hey, this was a 2007 Pontiac Vibe. It has been recalled. The man may not have been at fault.
I find you intolerance of "snowbirds" to be disgusting. The fact is without their money and their economic impact that whole area would be a ghost town.
You shouldn't "bite the hand that feeds you." I assume that you work and the business you work for or own is impacted by the retirees. Maybe thats not the case...
By the way, have you ever heard of punctuation?
that funny DIPSTICK are they sure they find sarah palin head first on his lapped.that might be the reason he lost control.
maybe the snowbird hitting up the flask one to many time
Unbebelievable that he is out on such a low bail until the vehicle has been checked out and his blood content has been checked out and other blood tests run. He looks a little bruised in the face. If he he had a TIA he probably would not remember or if he has hardening of the brain circulatory system he may have had a mini TIA causing him to lose control of the car. He should not be driving if he has had these in the past and has not sought some medical help for control of same.
How come the judge that crashed her Mercedes into a business was not charged with anything?
I can see a new marketing idea on the rise in order for The Edgewater to put this incident behind them due to this very horrible tragic accident :
Sign right up to register and become an Edgewater VIP slot club member ... for YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE 2007 PONTIAC VIBE that you see on display in our comfortable spacious riverfront slot area.
The reason the judge was not charged with any violation/criminal offense is that all judges, politicians, and diplomats seem to have diplomatic immunity from ever being prosecuted for anything.
Yeah I know, TOTALLY sickning, huh ?
It's just so uncomprehendable for a tragic event of this magnitude to take place with the lives lost and critically injured people as I wouldn't wish that on mainly anyone....
What I would have rather of wished happened instead, was having a much larger and faster vehicle plowing right thru the entrance of the Golden Nugget and only striking the very table boss that ran the craps table who screamed at me on two occasions (while embarrassing the table staff) and constantly harrassing me upon the way I was 'legally' shooting the dice WHILE instructing me to throw the dice 'HARDER' ...as I was on a nice rhythm roll with a soft touch hitting both dice on the back wall while covering all place numbers and the field....
After the next roll he yelled 'STOP THE TABLE' to his staff and told me this was my final warning, so I took down all my place bets with only a $5 line wager riding on the layout and threw the dice hard and walked away from the table, as the table boss sicked security on me as I was escorted out of the Golden Nugget upon leaving anyway.
It's actually more dangerous at the ends of the aisles at Costco when they're doing the Summerlin buffet than it is on the streets of Vegas or sitting in a casino in Laughlin.