Two killed in accident on Interstate 15

By Mary Manning

Published Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 | 6:20 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 | 12:59 p.m.

A fiery head-on crash that killed two people, including a Henderson man, overnight on Interstate 15 in Las Vegas led to part of the interstate being closed for nearly five hours until lanes could be re-opened.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said all southbound travel lanes on Interstate 15 between Silverado Ranch Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway were reopened at 8:33 a.m.

The crash occurred about 3:42 a.m. when a 1997 white Infinity sedan driven by a 25-year-old Henderson man was going the wrong way — north in the southbound lanes of the interstate — crashed head-on into a blue 2002 Ford pickup truck, according to state Trooper Kevin Honea.

The Infinity burst into flames on impact, killing both drivers, Honea said.

"It was hard to tell that two vehicles had been involved," Honea said after he arrived on the scene.

Only the drivers were involved in the crash in both vehicles, Honea said. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical crews, Honea said.

All southbound lanes on I-15 were closed from the time of the crash, until two lanes reopened at 7:52 a.m., Honea said. The other lane reopened about 8:33 a.m.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash and it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol were involved, Honea said.

To date investigators with the Nevada Highway Patrol have investigated 54 fatal crashes involving 59 deaths.