County to accept fines in deaths of teens

Clark County will not challenge state findings that say it violated safety laws in connection with the deaths of six teenagers working on a highway cleanup crew.

But that decision does not mean the county is admitting fault in that tragedy, the chairman of the Clark County Commission said today.

"My understanding from the county manager is that the county felt it was not necessary to oppose the fines, because the county has terminated the (highway cleanup) program," said Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury, an attorney.

"There simply is nothing to gain by a challenge."

Earlier this month Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section issued five safety violation citations and fined the county $3,150 following its investigation into the March 19 accident on Interstate 15.

Woodbury acknowledged that to fight the relatively small fine would cost the county -- and taxpayers -- far more than the fine itself.

"We are not admitting any fault," Woodbury said of the county's decision. "The county still believes that the primary cause of this terrible tragedy was the out-of-control driver."

Jessica Williams, 21, has been charged in the deaths of the teenagers and is in custody. She is accused of being under the influence of marijuana and the hallucinogenic drug Ecstasy when she fell asleep at the wheel of a minivan.

The van went into the I-15 median, traveled more than 200 feet and struck the teenagers, who were picking up trash. Scott Garner Jr., Alberto Puig, Anthony Smith, Rebeccah Glicken and Malina Stoltzfus died at the scene. Jennifer Booth died the next day.

In the state report earlier this month, the agency alleges that the Clark County Risk Management and Safety office failed to provide safety devices, protective equipment and training to those working near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway exit.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Davidson said that his office met with state safety officials Monday and the only real bone of contention was whether the adult supervisors on the work crew were wearing their vests at all times. There never was any question that the children on the crew wore vests, he said.

For each of the two serious violations, $1,500 fines were assessed. For an alleged regulatory offense, the county was assessed a $150 fine. Two other violations carried no fines.

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