Man arrested in fatal weekend crash: ‘I’m too drunk’

By Cara McCoy

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 | 1:18 p.m.

A man arrested Sunday morning for drunken driving in connection with a fatal crash in downtown Las Vegas had a blood-alcohol level of .149 and told police, “I can’t drive home, I’m too drunk,” according to a Metro Police report released Tuesday.

Jacques Norton, 22, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the wreck at 5:52 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Main Street and Charleston Boulevard that killed 52-year-old Robert Childress Jr., of Las Vegas.

Witnesses told police Norton’s vehicle, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, was traveling eastbound on Charleston Boulevard at a high rate of speed. The PT Cruiser didn’t stop for a red light and struck a 1980 Mercedes 300SD, driven by Childress, that was making a left turn from Main, witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated.

When an investigating officer approached Norton’s vehicle, the officer “could immediately smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.”

Norton told the officer he had four or five vodka tonics at a club, but couldn’t remember which club he had been at, the report said. He also told police he had taken several anti-depressant pills, the report said.

The report said that “out of the blue” Norton told police, “I can’t drive home. I’m too drunk.”

The officer asked Norton what street he was driving on, to which Norton responded he was on Las Vegas Boulevard and didn’t know the cross street. He also said he believed the date was May 1 and that it was 4 a.m., despite the sun being out, the police report said.

Norton was unable to stand without being assisted by officers or leaning against the patrol car, the report said.

The report said Childress’ vehicle traveled 144 feet from the point of impact.

Norton didn’t know he hit another vehicle when questioned by responding officers and told police he believed he had struck a fire hydrant, the report stated.

He was unable to maintain his balance while officers conducted field sobriety tests, which they eventually ended out of caution for Norton’s safety because he couldn’t look at his feet without falling over and almost fell and hit his head, the report said.

Norton was taken from the scene and booked into jail, where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear before a judge Wednesday morning.

A breath test indicated his blood-alcohol level was .149. Blood was drawn after Norton was taken to jail for further analysis.