JAN. 6 UPDATE: 39-year-old Frank Magliarditi of Henderson, who authorities say was a driver in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 15 near Charleston Boulevard on Dec. 3, had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.143% and was positive for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) at the time of his death, the Clark County Coroner says.
In Nevada, the legal limit for a non-commercial driver is a BAC of .08%, meaning Magliarditi was almost twice the legal limit for alcohol consumption.
For marijuana, a driver is considered under the influence in Nevada if their blood contains 2 nanograms of active THC. The coroner's office did not specify how much THC was found in Magliarditi's case.
Currently Nevada law does not differentiate penalties for marijuana-impaired driving from alcohol-impaired driving.
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DEC. 5 UPDATE: The Clark County Coroner's Office has identified 39-year-old Frank John Magliarditi of Henderson as the man who died in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 15 near Charleston Boulevard on Dec. 3.
The coroner's office says Magliarditi died of blunt force trauma and the death as been ruled an accident.
RELATED: Wrong way drivers plague Las Vegas, authorities give ominous nighttime warning
1:30 P.M. DEC. 3 UPDATE: The Nevada Highway Patrol said troopers have opened northbound Interstate 15 after their on-scene fatal crash investigation.
The Nevada Department of Transportation say that Wells Cargo will repair the damaged asphalt between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Dec. 3 and 4. The interstate will be reduced to 2 lanes during the repairs. Wells Cargo will be removing and replacing 500 of damaged asphalt across all 7 travel lanes. The work is a temporary patch until temperatures climb in the spring and they can replace the damaged section permanently.
#update I-15 NB at Sahara is now open. #drivesober #buckleup #eyesontheroad #drivesafenv #nhpsocomm
— NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) December 3, 2019
According to the Transportation Research Board, there are an average or 360 deaths nationwide every year due to wrong-way driver crashes. Between Jan. 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2015, there were 409 wrong-way crashes in Nevada resulting in 75 deaths.
Here are some wrong-way driving tips:
- Buckle up.
- Never drive while impaired or extremely sleepy. Do not allow those you know to drive impaired or sleepy.
- Drive attentively. Continually scan the road ahead so you have time to react to upcoming conditions.
- Do not tailgate. Leave enough space so you have time to react if the vehicle in front of you changes lanes suddenly to avoid a wrong-way driver.
- Stay right at night. The largest number of wrong-way crashes occur at night. Be aware that wrong-way drivers frequently travel in the left, or fast, lane.
- Because they are driving in the wrong direction, they believe they are actually traveling in the slow lane in an effort to avoid being stopped for speeding.
- If you encounter a wrong-way driver coming toward you, ease your foot off the gas to slow down. After looking to avoid other vehicles next to and behind you, steer away from the wrong-way driver. Dial 911 or *NHP to report the driver once safely off the road and away from the path of the wrong-way vehicle.
- If there is opportunity to do so, flashing your vehicle lights or honking your car horn could alert the wrong-way driver to stop and safely reroute.
11 A.M. DEC. 3 UPDATE: Nevada Highway Patrol says that the interstate is expected to reopen around 2 p.m. The fatal crash left holes in the road that must be fixed before the lanes can be reopen. NHP also said the driver who was killed was a male adult. No other information about the driver has been released.
ORIGINAL STORY
Nevada Highway Patrol says a wrong-way driver was killed around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 near Charleston Boulevard.
Traffic is currently being diverted to Sahara Avenue. NHP says that the wrong-way driver hit a semi truck belonging to Amazon head on between Sahara and Charleston.
The crash resulted in the truck hitting another semi-truck in the next lane, said NHP Trooper Travis Smaka.
HAPPENING NOW: Traffic backed up on the 15 (NB) and Charleston as @NHPSouthernComm investigate a fatal crash between a vehicle and tractor-trailer. We are on our way to learn more info. Stay with #GMLV for more info. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/tjjwHAMI1x
— Alicia Pattillo (@aliciapattillo) December 3, 2019
The driver of the Amazon truck was transported to University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Two people in the other semi were not seriously injured and remained at the scene.
The northbound lanes are expected to be closed for several hours because of a large debris field and fuel spill.
Unfortunately, wrong-way crashes are not uncommon in the valley, especially during the overnight hours. Another wrong-way driver was killed earlier this month on I-15. That person was believed to be impaired.
At this time, it is not known if this morning's wrong-way driver was impaired. The Clark County coroner will provide name and age after relatives have been notified.
