IN BRIEF

51-YEAR-OLD DIES

Man killed in traffic accident on wet road is identified

A man who died earlier in the week when his pickup slid because of the wet road has been identified as 51-year-old David Lupica.

Lupica, of Las Vegas, was killed Wednesday while driving a Chevrolet Silverado about 12:45 a.m. east on Bonanza Road near Nellis Boulevard. Las Vegas police said Lupica's truck skipped over a curb, struck a building, rolled onto its side and hit a palm tree.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

DOZENS INFECTED

Judge rejects plea deal in Colorado hepatitis C case

A Colorado surgery technician who infected three dozen people with hepatitis C must decide whether to withdraw her guilty plea, ask for another deal or take her chances with a judge who indicated she could get more than 20 years in prison.

Kristen Diane Parker, 27, accepted a plea agreement in September.

But U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn rejected the plea agreement Friday, saying it "unreasonably" restricted his sentencing prerogative.

32-YEAR-OLD SEX CASE

Judge says Polanski won't be sentenced in absentia

Director Roman Polanski lost his bid Friday to be sentenced without returning to the United States when a judge in Los Angeles ruled the director must be present in court if he wants to resolve his 32-year-old sex case.

Reiterating Polanski, 76, was a fugitive from justice, Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza said he was acting to protect "the dignity of the court."

Bart Dalton, a lawyer for Polanski, said the ruling would be appealed.

Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.