This blog joined the countless other voices from law enforcement and elsewhere that urged residents and tourists in Las Vegas to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday. Apparently, that advice wasn’t heeded by everyone, because authorities arrested more than a dozen people for driving under the influence during DUI saturation patrols and at a sobriety checkpoint. And at least one driver in the valley ignored the warnings and apparently caused a deadly auto accident.
Yesterday evening less than an hour after the Super Bowl ended, a 33-year old woman was driving her 2003 Toyota 4-Runner south on Rainbow Boulevard in the southwest part of the valley. About 8:45pm, the vehicle reportedly crossed into the northbound lanes near Wigwam Avenue. The Toyota slammed head-on into a 2004 Ford Mustang and was then hit by a 2011 Honda Pilot which was also traveling northbound.
The ensuing crash enveloped a total of six vehicles, one of which crashed into a business nearby and another which burst into flames after rolling over. The 24-year old male driver of the Mustang was pronounced dead at the scene. The Toyota driver was placed under arrest by Metro Police on a charge of DUI resulting in death.
Not only does the 33-year old woman face criminal charges, but she may also be named as the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit which could be filed by the family members of the 24-year old man. The woman may be ordered to pay damages for loss of care and emotional distress, as well as reimbursement for burial expenses and compensation for future wages that the man would have earned had the accident not taken place. All because she disregarded warnings about drinking and driving on Super Bowl Sunday.