IN BRIEF
LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD WRECK
Henderson man dies after crash into SUV
A 25-year-old Henderson man died last week after the driver of a sport-utility vehicle turned into the path of his motorcycle, the Nevada Highway Patrol said Tuesday.
At 11:36 a.m. Friday, the victim, identified as Jeremiah Clark Hanson, was driving a 2002 Honda motorcycle northbound on Las Vegas Boulevard approaching Desert Palm Drive, the Highway Patrol said.
At the same time, an 18-year-old Henderson woman in a 2000 Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle was southbound on Las Vegas Boulevard approaching Desert Palm Drive.
The woman, who was not identified, failed to yield the right of way and turned left directly into Hanson's path, the Highway Patrol said.
Hanson struck the right rear of the sport-utility vehicle. He was taken to the University Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries, the patrol said.
SLAYING IN HOME
Homicide victim, 53, was Las Vegas man
A 53-year-old man found dead in his home from multiple gunshots earlier this month was identified Tuesday by the coroner's office as David Jesse Vargus of Las Vegas.
The Metropolitan Police Department found Vargus' body May 20 in his home on the 3300 block of Frontier Street, near Desert Inn Road and Decatur Boulevard. Police said Vargus had been shot in the face and probably was dead a few days before he was found.
As of last week, no arrests had been made in connection with the slaying. Police had not determined a motive. An official with Las Vegas police's homicide section could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Police said neighbors of Vargus heard gunshots either late May 17 or early May 18. Some neighbors reported seeing two well-dressed men on Vargus' property about the time the gunshots were heard.
$500,000 IN DAMAGE
Blaze razes building, causes evacuation
A fire Tuesday afternoon destroyed a vacant building on East Bonanza Road near Lamb Boulevard.
Tim Szymanski, a spokesman with the Las Vegas Fire Department, said the cause of the fire at 4315 E. Bonanza Road is under investigation.
Szymanski said firefighters responded a little after 1 p.m. By about 2 p.m., the fire was extinguished, he said.
Nobody was injured in the blaze. Eighty-nine children at the neighboring Tinker Town day care facility were evacuated, Szymanski said.
The damage is estimated at $500,000, Szymanski said. He said he thought the building once had been a bank.
Firefighters had responded to a report of juveniles setting off fireworks in the parking lot of the building at 8:12 a.m.
CRASH ON STRIP
Driver, passengers hurt in tour bus accident
Ten people were injured Monday night when a tour bus crashed into the median on the Strip.
The driver of the 25-passenger tour bus had a seizure about 10:15 p.m. in front of Harrah's Las Vegas, Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Jose Montoya said.
The driver and nine passengers were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, Montoya said.
The bus was operated by Cosmo Charter Company, he said.
BOULDER HIGHWAY ACCIDENT
Collision victim was California man, 58
The 58-year-old motorcyclist who died Thursday after he collided with a car on Boulder Highway has been identified as Ralph Kessler of Simi Valley, Calif.
Kessler was traveling south about 4 p.m. on Boulder Highway while Anthony Vitalone, 67, was stopped at a stop sign at Glen Avenue.
Las Vegas police said Vitalone, who was driving a Geo Prizm, made a right turn onto southbound Boulder Highway. Vitalone then made a lane change into the path of the motorcyclist, and the collision occurred, police said.
Kessler was pronounced dead at the scene. Vitalone was uninjured, police said.
RENO SLAYING
Victim's friends to hold awareness event
Friends of a slain Reno woman are organizing an all-female flag football tournament this summer to promote safety awareness and to lobby for legislation to combat violent crime.
Brianna Denison was 19 years old when she was kidnapped from a friend's rental home near the University of Nevada, Reno in January. Her body was found a month later in a vacant lot in southeast Reno.
No arrests have been made.
Her friends and organizers of the "Bri Ball" tournament said they will hold the event every year until Denison's killer is caught.
If an arrest occurs, the money raised will go toward a scholarship awarded by Denison's family.
