Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Brief

INTERSTATE 15 ACCIDENT

Man, 24, dies when vehicle hits parked car

A North Las Vegas man died Saturday after the vehicle he was traveling in struck a parked car, the Nevada Highway Patrol said Monday.

The victim was identified as Jeffrey McGregor, 24.

McGregor was heading north on Interstate 15 at about 7:05 a.m. when his vehicle left the highway and struck a car stopped on the shoulder near Cheyenne Avenue, the Highway Patrol said.

THURSDAY INCIDENT

Man shot, killed by police identified

A man shot and killed Thursday by two Las Vegas police officers was identified Monday as Placido Torres Chavez, 38, authorities said.

The shooting occurred about 9:20 a.m. at 644 Naples Drive, near Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road, after the officers responded to a report of a suicidal man, police said.

After Chavez shot at the officers, they returned fire and fatally struck him, police said.

Las Vegas police on Monday identified the officers as Sgt. Dan McGrath and officer Redell Moore. Both officers have been with the department for 12 years.

They were placed on routine paid administrative leave, pending an internal investigation into the shooting.

HACIENDA AVENUE CRASH

Man killed when truck broadsided identified

A motorist killed Thursday when his pickup was hit by a truck speeding on the wrong side of the road was identified Monday as Julio Valdovinos-Manuel, 32, of Las Vegas.

Valdovinos-Manuel was heading west on Hacienda Avenue at Rainbow Boulevard in the southwest Las Vegas Valley about 5 p.m.

The 1995 Ford pickup he was in was broadsided by a 2001 Chevrolet pickup driven by Michael Kopnitsky, 39, of Las Vegas, police said.

Valdovinos-Manuel died instantly as both trucks tumbled into a corner of the intersection. Kopnitsky was transported to University Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Witnesses told police that the Chevrolet was driving north in the southbound lanes of Rainbow and ran a red light before smashing into the other truck, police said.

Investigators found prescription drugs in the truck driven by Kopnitsky but could not say whether he was impaired until his blood was tested, police said. Investigators weren't available for comment Monday.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

Police officer remains in serious condition

A Las Vegas police officer remained hospitalized Monday from injuries suffered during an accident when he was chasing a speeding vehicle on New Year's Day.

Officer David Gilbert, who was riding a department-issued 2000 Harley-Davidson, was thrown from his bike when another motorcyclist failed to yield the right of way on Flamingo Road near Audrie Street, police said.

The officer tried braking to avoid the accident but slid in front of the 2002 Suzuki Aerio, police said.

Gilbert was transported to University Medical Center, where he remained in serious condition on Monday.

The driver of the Suzuki, 24-year-old Mark Figueroa, was cited for a right of way violation, police said.

INTERSTATE 40

Two men killed in single-vehicle accident

Two men from Oakland, Calif., were killed Sunday in a single-vehicle traffic accident in northwest Arizona. The Arizona Department of Public Safety identified the victims as Jose Delafuente and his passenger, Kenneth Bartzel, both 48.

The accident occurred on Interstate 40, about four miles west of Yucca, Ariz.