In brief: Two babies killed, mom hurt in crash

Phoenix – Two babies were killed Saturday in a three-vehicle collision involving a gas tanker in Phoenix.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman said a car slowed on Interstate 10 on Saturday afternoon to look at a minor collision and cut off a minivan, which braked to avoid a crash.

A small sedan then hit the minivan and a gas tanker hit the two vehicles and overturned on its side.

A 13-month-old girl, a 3-week-old boy and a woman believed to be their mother were critically injured in the sedan and taken to hospitals; the babies died about 3:45 p.m. A woman in the minivan suffered nonfatal injuries, and the tanker driver was not hurt.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Authorities was looking for the male driver of the white or gray Dodge Magnum that cut off the minivan.

Pay-to-speed plan seen as budget fix

Carson City, Nev. – One Nevada gubernatorial hopeful sees a speedy fix to Nevada’s budget crisis.

Nonpartisan candidate Eugene “Gino” DiSimone said he believes people would pay for the privilege to drive up to 90 mph on designated highways – and fill the state’s depleted coffers.

DiSimone calls his idea the “free limit plan.” He estimates the plan would bring in $1 billion a year.

First, vehicles would have to pass a safety inspection. Then vehicle information would be loaded into a database, and motorists would purchase a transponder.

After setting up an account, anyone in a hurry could dial in, and for $25 charged to a credit card, be free to speed for 24 hours.

The Nevada Highway Patrol isn’t keen on the idea, saying it would lead to increased injuries and traffic deaths.