SAIT grads recovering after crash in Vegas

Four SAIT graduates are recovering from injuries ranging from minor to life threatening after a crash last week in Las Vegas involving an allegedly drunk driver.

The group was transported to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas late Wednesday night after a semitruck pulling a flatbed trailer collided with their taxi just after 9 p. m.

The southbound tractor- trailer entered a two- way turn lane towards northbound vehicles and hit the taxi, a Dodge Caravan, head- on.

The taxi driver attempted to avoid the collision by swerving left, according to police.

The collision left 22- year- old Sammy el- Rafi in critical condition. Anisha Sharma, 21, and Sarah Nhung, 24, were listed in serious condition. Steven Kwan, 23, was listed in moderate condition.

The 45- year- old Las Vegas taxi driver was treated for minor injuries.

Nhung’s relatives said on Monday that she returned home Sunday night and was recovering, while on Friday, Kwan posted on Facebook that he was on his way home after being released from hospital.

El- Rafi’s family members were in Las Vegas with him on Monday, according to relatives.

Las Vegas resident Bernard Tropp, 44, was arrested under suspicion that he was driving under the influence of liquor after failing sobriety tests and that he was involved in a hit- and- run. Police said he fled the scene on foot but witnesses directed them to his location.

Witnesses also told police that the tractor- trailer was swerving in traffic prior to the collision. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is still investigating the incident.

All four graduates recently completed a civil engineering technology program at SAIT.

“SAIT Polytechnic wishes our four graduates a speedy recovery,” a SAIT spokesperson said in a statement.