Gnarly crash leaves van wedged under semi; no one seriously hurt

By KIMBERLY DE LA CRUZ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

Rick Merritt, right, is seen at the accident scene where the minivan he was driving is trapped under a big rig trailer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2015 at the 6300 block of Annie Oakley Drive and Post Road. Merritt who sustained minor injuries to his face was issued a citation for speeding.(Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A crash that left a minivan wedged under semi-trailer Thursday in the southeast Las Vegas Valley looked terrible, but no one was seriously hurt. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Rick Merritt, center, and his wife Melissa are seen at the accident scene where the minivan he was driving is trapped under a big rig trailer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2015 at the 6300 block of Annie Oakley Drive and Post Road. Merritt who sustained minor injuries to his face was issued a citation by Metro police John Beck, left, for speeding.(Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Rick Merritt, left, is comforted by his wife Melisa at the accident scene where the minivan he was driving is trapped under a big rig trailer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2015 at the 6300 block of Annie Oakley Drive and Post Road. Merritt who sustained minor injuries to his face was issued a citation for speeding.(Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A crash that left a minivan wedged under semi-trailer Thursday in the southeast Las Vegas Valley looked terrible, but no one was seriously hurt.

The call came in about 12:50 p.m. in the intersection of Annie Oakley Drive and Post Road, near where Sunset and Sandhill roads meet, Metro spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said.

Las Vegas police said the tractor-trailer was eastbound on Post and the van was headed north on Annie Oakley when the truck turned onto Annie Oakley. The truck was already in the intersection when the van hit it, officers said.

The minivan driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, suffered just minor injuries and was seen walking around after the collision. His wife was taking him to the hospital for injuries to his face.

Police identified the minivan driver as Rick Merritt. Officers said he will be cited in the crash because he should have been able to avoid the tractor-trailer. The exact citation wasn’t immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back here for details.

Review-Journal photographer Bizuayehu Tesfaye contributed to this report.

Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV