Courtesy photo -A Henderson man who was a passenger in a rollover accident near Eagle Valley Resort Saturday night suffered serious injuries in the crash. The driver, also from Henderson, was arrested and charged on several counts, including driving under the influence.
A one-vehicle rollover accident in the area of the Eagle Valley Resort on State Route 322 Saturday night sent a young man from Henderson to the hospital in Las Vegas with serious neck, back and head injuries.
Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee reported the call came into the dispatch center about 8:40 p.m. Pioche Fire and Ambulance, the sheriff’s department and Nevada Highway Patrol responded.
A 1994 Chevy pickup had rolled over and injured both occupants. The driver, Forrest Donald Kovacs, 24, was arrested on a felony charge of driving under the influence involving death or substantial bodily harm. The male passenger, name not given, was taken by ambulance to Grover C. Dils Hospital with serious head, neck and back injuries and lifeflighted to Las Vegas. Lee said paralysis was also a possibility.
The sheriff’s department is conducting an investigation on the DUI charge, and highway patrol is investigating the accident.
Lee said at least one open alcoholic container was found inside the vehicle, but he did not know if either man was ejected during the rollover.
Kovacs was taken to Dils hospital for a forced blood draw. He was also charged with resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, disorderly conduct, open alcohol container, suspended registration and no proof of insurance. He appeared in Meadow Valley Justice Court before Judge Mike Cowley on Tuesday and bail was set at $30,000. Kovacs is being kept at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
