Thursday, April 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
A transvestite motorist was involved today in two collisions with Nevada Highway Patrol vehicles, injuring one trooper and causing an accident that tied up rush-hour freeway traffic for several miles.
When the chase ended with the driver's car and an NHP car caroming into an Interstate 15 restraining wall near Charleston Boulevard, the man fled wearing high heels, a short white dress with no underwear, a women's wig and makeup and carrying a purse, the NHP said.
John Williams, 43, of Las Vegas was taken to University Medical Center to be treated for the shot of pepper spray he received from troopers who apprehended him.
He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, two counts of battery on police officers, resisting arrest, eluding police and assault with a deadly weapon -- his car.
The incident began shortly before 8 a.m. when NHP motorcycle Trooper Lee Brown, a 12-year veteran, attempted to stop Williams' 1972 Volkswagon because of erratic driving at the Las Vegas Boulevard on-ramp to the U.S. 95 Expressway.
"The driver hit his brakes and spun broadside, with Brown's motorcycle hitting the car, causing him to flip over the vehicle," said Trooper Steve Harney, noting that Brown's saddle bronc and bull-riding experience helped prevent serious injuries.
"He got up, and approached the driver, who used profanity and took off."
Brown, later taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, called for backup, which followed the fleeing vehicle from U.S. 95 to the Spaghetti Bowl and southbound on I-15.
The car, which Harney said tried to run other cars off the road, then struck an NHP patrol car driven by Trooper Jim Brannum, who veered back into the car, taking both into the wall.
The incident reduced freeway traffic to one lane and snarled I-15 traffic back to Lake Mead. U.S. 95 also was backed up, Harney said.
"The trooper used the pepper spray simply to bring the man under control," Harney said, defending the use of the chemical that can cause temporary blindness.
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