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 A 70 year old man who smashed his car through the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin, Nevada killing two and injuring several others, some in critical condition, has now been charged with two felony counts of reckless driving resulting in death. The man has now been identified as Walter McGie, of Washington.
Police speculate that McGie was driving east down Bruce Woodbury Drive going pretty fast when he ran a red light at Casino Drive. He crashed his Pontiac Vibe right through the main entrance and it didn't stop until it reached the cashiers counter, a good 35 feet or more into the casino.
Nine people who were in the lobby and sitting at slot machines were hit as the car came barreling through. Two victims died at the scene of the accident and several others were taken to the hospital in serious condition. One of the victims killed in the accident has been identified as 81- year -old Helen Hindmand of Lincoln, Nebraska. The name of the other woman who died in the crash has not yet been disclosed because her next of kin has not yet been informed of the loss.
Fire Division Chief of the Bullhead City Fire Department, Bill Kinsey was one of the first at the scene where he expected to find a vehicle smashed into the side of the building. "There was a large section of glass missing and a big hole, and you're thinking: There's no vehicle. Where's the vehicle? This isn't good," said Kinsey.
Kinsey described the scene where slot machines had been knocked down like bowling pins and one of the victims was pinned between a slot machine and the front of the car. It was a truly horrific accident. "It was quiet inside," he said. "Eerily quiet for a casino. Everyone was just busy. There were a lot of people being triaged."
There were no evident signs that the driver attempted to stop and McGie refused to go to the hospital to treat his minor injuries. McGie is claiming to have experienced some sort of medical episode before the just before crashing into the casino but police are declining to disclose any details of that possibility.
McGie was brought in and booked under the felony charges but was released on $6,000 bail pending his arraignment scheduled for March 11. William Redfairn, a Police detective, reported that McGie says he doesn't remember the crash.
Photo Courtesy of the Bullhead City Fire Department
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