Police say Laughlin driver seemed confused; second victim ID’ed

By Cara McCoy

Published Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 | 11:16 a.m.

Updated Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 | 12:24 p.m.

A man whose vehicle crashed into a Laughlin casino on Wednesday, killing two people, had suffered from blackouts and seemed confused by police commands, according to a police report released Friday.

Walter McGie, 70, of Kelso, Wash., was arrested after the crash and charged with two counts of felony reckless driving causing death. He reportedly told police he suffers from blackouts and was taking seizure medication at the time of the crash.

Also today, the Clark County Coroner's Office identified the second woman killed in the crash as 74-year-old Helene Walker of, Mesa, Ariz. The coroner's office said Walker died of multiple blunt force injuries as a result of the crash and ruled her death as accidental.

The other victim was identified Thursday 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.

A Metro Police report released today details the circumstances surrounding McGie’s arrest, which came after his silver 2007 Pontiac Vibe traveled 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.

According to the police report, when officers approached McGie at the casino and asked him if he knew what happened, he “stated that he had blacked out and was unaware of what had occurred,” the report said.

He reportedly told the investigating officer that he had a history of blacking out and that for the past two or three years he had been taking seizure medication.

McGie agreed to have his blood drawn for testing and officers took him to a local clinic before taking him to the Tucker Holding Facility in Laughlin for booking.

When the officer opened the rear door for McGie to exit the police car, McGie “began laughing and refused to follow my commands,” the report said. The officer asked McGie several more times to step outside the vehicle, which he refused to do.

“Mr. McGie seemed confused and continued laughing,” the officer wrote in his report. The officer then contacted his supervisor and at that point, McGie entered the jail and followed all the commands he was given, the report said.

McGie was released from jail late Wednesday after posting $6,000 bail. He is set to be arraigned March 11 in Laughlin Justice Court.

Each charge carries a possible sentence of probation or one to six years in state prison.

When the responding officers arrived at the casino at 9:32 a.m., they found the Pontiac lodged inside the building about 100 feet past the main doors.

One body lay behind the vehicle. A second body was under the front, left tire. Paramedics from the Laughlin fire department pronounced both victims dead at the scene, police said.

Police said a mechanic will evaluate the car in case a possible malfunction could have contributed to the accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not have any defects or recalls for the 2007 Vibe listed in its database.

Police said that alcohol and drugs didn't appear to be a factor in the crash.

A daughter of McGie said Thursday she was stunned to hear her father was driving the speeding vehicle.

Laura White of Portland, Ore., said that her father, Walter Melvin McGie Jr., is friendly and outgoing, and must be devastated to have been involved in the crash.

Sun reporters Tiffany Gibson and Kyle Hansen, and the Associated Press, contributed to this report.