Highway patrol investigates 2 fatal crashes in western valley

By Kyle B. Hansen (contact)

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 | 5:28 p.m.

Two people died in separate crashes Sunday and Monday, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

A woman died Sunday after the car she was riding in crashed on the Las Vegas Beltway near Flamingo Road.

Shortly after noon, the tire tread separated on a Ford Explorer driven by a 28 year-old woman. The driver of the car overcorrected, sending the vehicle into a rock embankment, where it overturned, Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Fackrell said.

The driver and a 59-year-old woman passenger were taken to University Medical Center, where the passenger died about four hours later, Fackrell said.

Both women were wearing their seatbelts, the highway patrol said.

On Monday, a man died when his vehicle was hit by another car on Summerlin Parkway near Buffalo Drive.

The highway patrol said a red Isuzu Rodeo driven by a 29-year-old man failed to stay in its eastbound lane at about 4:30 a.m. The Isuzu crossed the median and hit a blue Ford Taurus driven by a 60-year-old man.

Both drivers were taken to University Medical Center, where the driver of the Ford died about six hours later, Trooper Joseph Fackrell said.

The highway patrol said alcohol might have been a factor in the crash. The driver of the Isuzu was wearing a seatbelt, but investigators haven't determined if the Ford’s driver was belted.

The victims' names weren't available Tuesday evening. Ten people have died so far this year in crashes investigated by the Nevada Highway Patrol.