IN BRIEF

EARLY MORNING WRECK

Accident victim was Las Vegas teenager

A teenage girl who died in an early morning traffic accident Sunday at Hualapai Way and Biscayne Lane has been identified as Jenna Savata, 16, of Las Vegas.

Authorities responded at 2 a.m. to the accident near Sahara Avenue after getting a call that a vehicle had hit a light pole, said Las Vegas police spokesman Jose Montoya. Savata was a passenger in the car and died at the scene.

The 17-year-old driver of the car was in critical condition. The car's other passenger suffered minor injuries, Montoya said.

BOULDER HIGHWAY

Authorities identify body found in hotel

The woman whose body was found Saturday in a hotel room on Boulder Highway has been identified as Pennie Jean Stewart, 46.

Homicide investigators responded to the scene at Arizona Charlie's Boulder, 2575 Boulder Highway, after Stewart's body was discovered about 8:30 a.m.

The room was checked out to a man whose name police are withholding. They continue to search for him as a "person of interest," Las Vegas police Lt. Lew Roberts said.

Initial reports suggest Stewart died by asphyxiation, Roberts said. But the cause of death is still being determined by the Clark County coroner's office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Las Vegas homicide at 828-3521.

NORTH LAS VEGAS MAN

32-year-old stabbing victim identified

The man who was found stabbed to death at a North Las Vegas apartment complex early Saturday was 32-year-old Robert Hernandez of North Las Vegas, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

Police said they were called to the apartments at 2200 Ellis St., northwest of Belmont Street and Lake Mead Boulevard, about 4 a.m.

As of Monday night, police had not reported any arrests in the case.

Anyone with information about the slaying can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

WILDLIFE INVASION

Deputy shoots bear in Tahoe-area home

A black bear charged a California sheriff's deputy inside a Lake Tahoe-area home early Monday before it was shot and killed, authorities said.

A homeowner called deputies about 3:30 a.m. to report that a bear was in his kitchen, the El Dorado County sheriff's office said.

Lt. Les Lovell said the first deputy to arrive entered through the front door, stomping his feet and yelling, hoping to get the bear to flee out an open sliding door.

Instead, the bear charged, and the deputy fired twice.

HORSES KILLED

Riders escape train on railroad bridge

Two horseback riders escaped injury, but their mounts were killed, when they were struck by a Union Pacific train on a bridge west of Reno.

The unidentified riders were crossing the Truckee River on a railroad bridge when kayakers in the river told them of the oncoming train Sunday.

The riders dismounted and jumped to safety but were unable to get the horses off the bridge.