DEADLY ROLLOVER: Police: Alcohol led to crash - News

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Sep. 11, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

DEADLY ROLLOVER: Police: Alcohol led to crash

18-year-old driver dies; four other teens injured

By ANTONIO PLANAS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

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.

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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.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Vienna wrote on September 23, 2009 04:12 PM: Obviously, this is a sad and tragic event that could have been avoided. First of all, why is an 18 year old hanging around a group of minors, secondly he is that young with two children! obviously this young-adult had no parental guidance or control. I do give me deepest condolences to the children who will grow up without a father, hopefully they too will not be deprived of good parental guidence. r.i.p wrote on September 20, 2009 03:17 PM: my prayers go out to lucio and his TWO KIDS both under 3 years old. nobody wants to lose a family member that young. or at all.. r.i.p. The Poets Dreamed wrote on September 17, 2009 12:53 PM: Sounds like this kid had no guidance or adult figures in his life. Tragic indeed, hopefully a lesson learned for the survivors. Deuce wrote on September 12, 2009 12:59 AM: To On the case... You are an idiot!This is a woman who has lost family members to some scumbag that thinks rules and common decency are for others.Hope to god you never have a family member involved in a drunk driving accident,probably don't care if its you.Minus one more moron like you doesn't sound half bad.Adults that provide alcohol and drugs to kids are no better than murders and child molesters,same group! The guy was 18 years old, hardly a kid. I bet if he crashed his vehicle into one of your kids you would have a differant opinion. I think you qualify to add yourself to the Idiot list. Wow! wrote on September 11, 2009 11:54 PM: To On the case... You are an idiot!This is a woman who has lost family members to some scumbag that thinks rules and common decency are for others.Hope to god you never have a family member involved in a drunk driving accident,probably don't care if its you.Minus one more moron like you doesn't sound half bad.Adults that provide alcohol and drugs to kids are no better than murders and child molesters,same group! On the CASE... wrote on September 11, 2009 07:26 PM: Sandy Heverly is on the case... Doing her detective work to determine if some adult provided the alcohol to these teens... "The good new is they didn't kill or injure any innocent person." Think about that for a second... This chick is an idiot. strad wrote on September 11, 2009 01:23 PM: Doesn't matter how many people die or get maimed as a result of driving under the influence, and it doesn't matter how many stories get published about it. Most people are dumber than posts, especially younger people, and the "it'll never happen to me" mentality will continue to take lives until the end of time. I mean, it's not like the effects of alcohol are unknown or not well documented. How much convincing does it take? VoR wrote on September 11, 2009 11:25 AM: Oscar, I care. Contributing to the delinquency of minors is a serious matter. If some 17 year old is hammered and runs their car into someone you love, you will probably care how they managed to get the booze too.. J & J wrote on September 11, 2009 11:16 AM: BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THE DRIVER WAS A LOOSER AND HAD NO PLANS TO BETTER HIMSELF. THE OTHER KIDS THAT SURVIVED SHOULD USE THIS EXPERIENCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND SINCE THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT "YOU ARE JUDGED BY THE FRINDS YOU KEEP!" AdoreInVegas wrote on September 11, 2009 10:21 AM: Alcohol abuse transcends race, gender and age. It is nondiscrimminatory. My condolences to the families, no one, and I mean NO ONE wants to endure the pain of losing a child under ANY circumstances. Read All Comments