Man in critical condition after 5-vehicle pileup on Tropicana Avenue

By Jackie Valley, Gregan Wingert

Published Monday, March 5, 2012 | 12:18 p.m.

Updated Monday, March 5, 2012 | 10:55 p.m.

A five-vehicle accident Monday morning in the eastern Las Vegas Valley sent a 58-year-old man to the hospital with critical injuries, Metro Police said.

Metro spokesman Bill Cassell said the accident happened at 7:49 a.m. near Tropicana Avenue and Sandhill Road.

Five vehicles — three cars, an SUV and a semi-truck — were involved. Two people were taken to area hospitals, including a male with “very critical injuries,” Cassell said.

Witnesses told police the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon was traveling eastbound, in the left travel lane of Tropicana Avenue, when it collided with the rear of an eastbound 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, police said.

The Hyundai rotated and hit the curb before re-entering eastbound traffic and crossing over the center medium, police said. The Hyundai then hit the left rear tire of a 62-foot flatbed trailer towed by a 2005 Freightliner semi-truck.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet rotated and crossed the center median of Tropicana Avenue into oncoming traffic, police said. The Chevrolet hit the left side of a westbound 1993 Dodge Stealth, forcing the Dodge onto a curb.

The Chevrolet continued rotating until it hit the left front of a westbound 2001 Toyota Highlander that had come to a stop in the road, police said. The Chevrolet stopped after colliding with the Toyota.

For nearly eight hours in the accident's aftermath, authorities closed Tropicana Avenue to traffic from Sandhill Road to Salida Drive. Police reopened the road shortly before 3:30 p.m.

The 58-year-old driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center with critical injuries, police said.

The 22-year-old man driving the Hyundai was transported to Sunrise Hospital with minor injuries, police said. The other drivers were uninjured and remained at the scene.

Metro’s fatal unit is investigating the collision, which is standard procedure for any accident involving critical injuries, Cassell said.