UPDATE 5 P.M.: The Nevada Highway Patrol says the driver of a Hummer traveling the wrong way on the US-95 Friday was 32-year-old Benjamin Ames from Las Vegas.
The woman who died as a result of the crash, according to NHP, is 58-year-old Susan Teves from Las Vegas.
Authorities say Ames was taken into custody and book on the following charges:
- Probation Violation
- Driving Under the Influence, Above the Legal Limit Resulting in Death
- Reckless Driving Resulting in Death or Serious Bodily Harm
- Duty to Stop at the Scene of Accident
- Driving Wrong Way on a One Way Road
- Fail to Give Information to Party at Vehicle Accident
- Driver Fail to Report Unattended Vehicle
- Proof of Insurance Required
- Fail to Wear Safety Belt
Investigators believe speed and impairment were factors in the crash.
A law enforcement source informed 13 Action News that Ames was also charged with multiple counts of domestic battery that included a felony second-degree kidnapping earlier this year after a barricade situation.
Friday's crash was the 41st fatal crash in the Nevada Highway Patrol – Southern Commands jurisdiction in 2020.
ORIGINAL STORY
One person is dead and Nevada Highway Patrol says a wrong-way driver is to blame.
Investigators with NHP say a person driving a Hummer was heading southbound in the northbound direction of US-95 near Russell Road just before 2 a.m. when the driver slammed into a Nissan Sentra, killing the female driver of that vehicle.
Read more Las Vegas breaking news for Sept. 11, 2020
#FatalCrash Involving a wrong way driver US95 northbound near Russell. US95 northbound closed at Russell Rd. Expect major delays and avoid the area. #DriveSafeNV #buckleup #Drivesober #NHPSoComm pic.twitter.com/DBIoNwRflh
— NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) September 11, 2020
The driver of the Hummer suffered only minor injuries.
Impairment is suspected.
NHP closed the northbound lanes of the US-95 at Russell for much of the morning for the investigation.
