Police investigating accident as possible DUI

A violent car accident late June 5 sent the driver to the hospital and residents scrambling to the scene fearful it was high school students celebrating graduation that night.

Although it wasn’t seniors celebrating their big night, it was a pair of former Boulder City High students who were involved.

According to police, the accident happened around 10 p.m. when a vehicle slammed into a pair of light poles on a median on Georgia Avenue and Shirley Lane.

Although police would not release the names of the people involved in the accident, Facebook posts and multiple sources have told the Review that Corey Krause was driving the vehicle and Justin Jensen was the passenger when it slammed into the pole.

The 22-year-old Krause, who graduated from Boulder City High in 2009, was taken to a Las Vegas area hospital but was released.

The 21-year-old Jensen, who according to police refused medical treatment, posted on Facebook around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that “Corey and I will be fine aside from the minor injuries. This could have been a lot worse.”

Police Chief Bill Conger said Thursday he could not release certain details of the accident because it was still under investigation, stating only that speed and/or alcohol may have been a factor.

However, according to today’s police column by Officer Jeff Grasso, “DUI, reckless driving, and numerous other charges are being filed against the driver.”

Assistant City Attorney Gary Booker said Tuesday he was unaware if the police had completed their investigation. City Attorney Dave Olsen was out of the office on vacation.

Talking about general police procedure in Nevada, Booker said it is unlikely for police to administer a field-sobriety test and make an arrest if the driver is sent to the hospital. Police would have to obtain a warrant to draw the driver’s blood while he is in the hospital.

Conger did not return by Wednesday morning a Tuesday email inquiring into the status of the investigation.

According to a witness who lives near the accident scene and was the first to arrive, the driver was unconscious for about five minutes.

“I thought he was done for,” said the witness, who asked for his name to be withheld. He added that the accident “shook the house.”

Loren Melbostad, who lives on Georgia directly in front of the accident, said the accident “sounded like an explosion.”

Melbostad came out of his house with his wife, Carolyn, to find the air filled with thick smoke.

“When we came out, we couldn’t see across the street,” Carolyn said. “Both the poles were bent and there were pieces of car all over the place.”

The city quickly removed the two light poles.