Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

News briefs for June 16, 2003

Three killed in Interstate 15 crash

Three people were killed today in a one-car crash after a driver lost control on Interstate 15 between Primm and Jean, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

About 5:10 a.m., the driver of a blue Toyota four-door with California plates drifted into the shoulder and lost control. The car rolled and three of the four occupants were thrown from the car, Trooper Angie Wolff said.

The only survivor was a front-seat passenger. He was wearing a seat belt; the others were not, Wolff said. The crash is believed to be alcohol-related.

Bicyclist killed by street racers

Street racers ran over and killed an 18-year-old bicyclist Friday night, Metro Police said.

A pedestrian and Robert Wesley-Jenson, 18, of Las Vegas, were crossing Karen Avenue in a crosswalk west of Malibu Street at about 9 p.m. when the two speeding cars came at them, the pedestrian told police. The pedestrian was able to run out of the way, but Wesley-Jenson was not, police said.

Officers said Angel Esber-Gonzalez, 23, was driving a 2003 Hyundai sport utility vehicle westbound on Karen, while a 17-year-old boy whose name was withheld by police was racing Esber-Gonzalez in a 1998 Ford Escort in the same direction.

Traffic investigators said the Hyundai hit the bicyclist first. The impact sent the bike and rider into the Ford's path. The bicyclist was dragged by the Ford until the Ford stopped.

Both drivers remained at the scene, police said. Felony charges are expected to be filed against both drivers after the investigation is finished, police said.

Man arrested in woman's killing

Metro Police arrested a man on Saturday in the slaying of his ex-girlfriend.

Jeremy Crozier, 21, was charged with first-degree murder.

Crozier called police from a pay phone in southeast Las Vegas, police said, and surrendered to officers about 8 a.m.

Officers said they wanted to talk to Crozier about the death of his ex-girlfriend, who was found dead inside her southwest Las Vegas apartment Friday afternoon. She had not been positively identified as of this morning, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

After questioning Crozier, police booked him into Clark County Detention Center, charging him with murder.

Officers said Crozier told police where the victim's car, which had been missing from her apartment, could be found. The 1996 maroon Nissan Sentra was towed to Las Vegas from U.S. 93 in Lincoln County, police said.

Indictment charges man with murder

A Las Vegas man accused of killing a woman and dumping her body in a dry wash near Boulder City will face murder charges in District Court.

A grand jury indictment, unsealed Friday before District Judge Gene Porter, charges Armando Cortinas Jr. with one count each of murder with use of a deadly weapon and robbery with use of a deadly weapon in the April death of 20-year-old Kathryn Kercher.

Cortinas, 23, who is being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail, is scheduled to be arraigned before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle on Wednesday.

Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly declined to comment on the case.

The indictment charges Cortinas with stabbing Kercher to death on April 15, and then stealing her 1990 Honda Accord.

According to police, Cortinas told them he killed the woman after meeting her through a personal ad in the Village Voice newspaper. At the meeting they set a price for prostitution, he told police.

ATV riders found Kercher's body.

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