Police: Alcohol led to crash

A single-vehicle accident in the northwest valley Wednesday night involved a rollover, five teens and, according to a Las Vegas police officer, a factor common to many accidents he has seen: alcohol.

Sgt. Oscar Chavez said all of the teenagers in the vehicle had been drinking before the crash. The 18-year-old driver, Lucio Sanchez Jr., died at University Medical Center shortly after the crash.

Chavez said the scene he encountered on Tropical Parkway near Rainbow Boulevard is all too familiar.

"Drinking and driving is an epidemic that is seen in both age groups, juvenile and adult," Chavez said Thursday.

He added that the attitudes of some teenagers can jeopardize them on roadways.

"Kids nowadays need to be aware they're not invincible," he said. "Consuming alcohol and driving or getting in the vehicle where a driver is intoxicated is foolish."

Three of the four teenagers hospitalized after the crash are expected to recover, Chavez said. The fourth teenager was in critical condition Thursday.

Police said the accident occurred about 6:30 p.m. after Sanchez turned east on Tropical Parkway from Serene Drive. Witnesses told police the driver of the 2002 Honda Civic lost control of the vehicle, which struck a block wall and rolled onto its left side at the southeast corner of Kylie Street.

Police did not identify the teen passengers by name because they are minors. Three of the teens are 14-year-old boys, one of whom is Sanchez's brother. The fourth teen involved is a 17-year-old girl who is the sister of one of the boys.

Chavez said that before the crash, the teenagers were seen drinking at a park across the street from the accident scene. Visible tire marks on the residential street near the crash site show Sanchez was probably speeding, Chavez said.

Chavez said none of the teens was wearing a seat belt.

A woman at Sanchez's home Thursday said the family didn't want to comment on the crash. She said funeral arrangements for Sanchez had not yet been made.

Michael Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Clark County School District, said Sanchez was not enrolled in the school system this school year. Rodriguez said district records last show that Sanchez was enrolled in 2007-08 at the Academy for Individualized Study, an alternative program.

Chavez said police didn't test the teens with Breathalyzer devices because they had to be rushed to the hospital.

Police are still investigating how the teenagers obtained the alcohol, Chavez said.

Sandy Heverly, executive director of STOP DUI, said Wednesday's fatal crash was another reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.

"It's tragic, senseless and preventable," Heverly said. "The good news is they didn't kill or injure any innocent person."

Heverly wondered whether an adult might be partially responsible for the accident. She is curious about who provided the alcohol to the teens.

Chavez said the teens were hanging out at a home before going to the park. Sanchez then told the group he was leaving to pick up alcohol, according to police. When Sanchez returned to the home, he and the others went to the park with the alcohol.

Review-Journal reporter Mike Blasky contributed to this report. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.