Man faces second tragedy in a year

Three victims of a deadly car crash were fighting for their lives Tuesday while a Pahrump, Nev. man was trying to cope with a second family tragedy in the past year.

Five people were killed Sunday when a car drifted over the center line and slammed head-on into a sport-utility vehicle on a deadly stretch of Highway 160 near scenic Red Rock Canyon.

The crash was particularly devastating to Fred Krecklow of Pahrump.

Krecklow lost his wife, Caroline, and his daughter, Lynda Hall in the accident. The tragedy came almost one year to the day after Krecklow's 6-year-old grandson Patrick Hall drowned in the Pahrump Community Swimming Pool.

"I was just starting to get over it and now it's happening again," Krecklow said Monday. "I was getting over a heart attack. I'm starting to get dizzy again."

The SUV also carried Krecklow's daughter, Casey Krecklow, 26, of Washington state, and her two daughters, Tori Carter, 6, and Monica Carter, 1. Casey Krecklow and Tori were in critical condition Tuesday and Monica was in fair condition.

The women had been traveling from Krecklow's home in Pahrump to Las Vegas to meet a relative. Krecklow, 68, said he declined to go along because there wasn't enough room in the vehicle.

Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Alan Davidson said a car driven by Fidel Gonzalez-O'Donovan, 40, of Las Vegas, drifted into the path of the SUV.

Gonzalez-O'Donovan was driving his two children, girlfriend and nephew back to Pahrump after seeing a movie in Las Vegas. He was killed in the crash, along with his daughter, Megan Whitehead, 6, and his girlfriend, Elesa Anderson, 33, of Las Vegas. His 11-year-old son was in fair condition and his 13-year-old nephew was in critical condition Tuesday at UMC.

Since 1995 there have been more than 30 fatalities on the 60-mile stretch of Highway 160 that runs between Las Vegas and Pahrump. Initial reports had put the total at 60.

Bob Mckenzie, a spokesman for the Nevada Transportation Department, said about 9,600 cars travel the route daily.

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