A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle while using a crosswalk in northeast Las Vegas on Tuesday. The fatality brings the traffic death toll in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area to 88 since the start of 2016.
The fatal collision occurred around 7:00 p.m. when the man was struck by a Ford Mustang on Lake Mead Blvd.
The 46-year-old driver has been cooperating with investigators and did not show any signs of impairment when speaking to police.
This marks the second pedestrian death within a week. Another man was reported to have been killed on Oct. 17 in a hit-and-run accident.
His body was reported to have been found in the middle of the street after drivers were reportedly swerving to avoid hitting an object. Police reports indicate that he was wearing dark clothing in a poorly lit section of roadway. The report stated that an unknown vehicle struck the man, but that red paint and chrome parts were found at the scene.
Pedestrian Accidents Epidemic
The state of Nevada declared an epidemic of pedestrian deaths in March after 92 pedestrians had reportedly been killed by vehicles from Jan. 1, 2015 to Feb. 26, 2016.
Crash reports suggest that most pedestrian deaths occur at night on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher. Pedestrians who wear dark clothing, ignore crosswalks or are neglectful of their surroundings while crossing the road pose the highest risk of being struck by a vehicle.
In response to the increasing deaths, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) launched an awareness campaign and a coinciding website, ePEDemic.org. The campaign has employed the use of billboards, radio announcements, and digital and social media advertisements to reach and inform the public to watch out for pedestrians.
NDOT has also planned to improve road engineering, which it believes can save lives. The improvements include 6.5 million dollars in pedestrian and motorist safety upgrades on Lake Mead Blvd., where the most recent pedestrian was killed. Another $2 million is being used to improve safety on other roads in Las Vegas.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a fatal car accident, the Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Henness & Haight are here to help. We provide a free review of your claim to see if you have a case and are entitled to compensation.