1 child dead, another injured after scooter-vehicle crash in Las Vegas

One child was killed and another was injured after the electric scooter they were on crossed into the path of a pickup truck in northeast Las Vegas on Thursday, police said.

A 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene after the Trafly stand-up e-scooter he was on collided at about 2:37 p.m. Thursday with a 2017 Toyota Tundra near East Owens Avenue and North Pecos Road, according to a Metropolitan Police Department news release. The boy had been a passenger on the scooter, police said.

A 9-year-old boy who was operating the e-scooter was taken to University Medical Center following the crash, but police said the child did not have life-threatening injuries.

“A collision occurred when the two juveniles unlawfully entered the intersection and crossed the Toyota’s path of travel,” the news release said.

The driver of the truck, a 44-year-old Las Vegas woman, remained at the scene of the crash and did not display signs of impairment, police said.

The names of the children were not released. The crash happened at the intersection of two residential side streets — East Butternut Lane and North Charnut Lane — north of Owens.

“This is yet another young juvenile who will not be here for the holiday season,” Metro Lt. Cody Fulwiler said during a Thursday afternoon news conference near the scene. “I need, and our police department and our community members need, to talk to our kids when they’re riding e-scooters and e-bikes. We need to have those conversations with our children.”

The child’s death was the 130th traffic-related fatality in Metro’s jurisdiction this year, police said.

Fulwiler, who heads Metro’s Traffic Bureau, said that Las Vegas Valley drivers also need to be more careful when behind the wheel.

“On the other side, as adult drivers, we need to slow down and pay attention,” Fulwiler said. “We need to know when we’re in and around neighborhoods where children are riding these devices or walking. We need to be better. This community, I know, is tired of seeing young children killed on our roadways.”

Thursday’s crash happened at a time of day when many children are on foot or riding scooters or bikes in neighborhoods.

Tiffany Tillman, who lives in the area, said she’s witnessed numerous close calls where vehicles have nearly hit pedestrians in just the past few months.

“There’s people speeding, drag racing, all types of different things,” Tillman said. “People need to slow down. There’s kids out here, there’s pedestrians, people don’t need to be speeding down the street like they do. Take a second to pay attention and to slow down. It’s not fair to the kids and the parents.”

Fulwiler encouraged anyone who rides an e-scooter or e-bike to follow all rules of the road.

“It’s not only juveniles, but also adults who may not understand the capabilities of these devices,” Fulwiler said. “They need to — whether it’s an e-scooter, e-bike or bicycle — follow the rules, too, and we’re working to push that message out.”

Fulwiler said the crash remained under investigation as of Thursday evening.

Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X. Contact Kevin J. Barr at kbarr@reviewjournal.com.