1 dead after crash just east of Las Vegas Strip

One person died, one was seriously injured and several others suffered minor injuries in a five-car crash near the Strip on Friday night.

About 9:40 p.m., the fatal collision took place on East Tropicana Avenue at the intersection with South Koval Lane, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

In a statement, police said a 2006 BMW 3 Series, driven by a man in his 40s, was headed westbound on Tropicana when it sideswiped a stopped westbound Kia Optima and continued through a red light.

The BMW struck a Ford Escape, which was turning left from Tropicana onto Koval, police said. The impact caused the Ford to rotate — it slid into a Nissan Juke, which was turning left after the Ford. The Nissan was forced backward into a Toyota Camry.

Several occupants were transported to hospitals for varying injuries, the statement said. The BMW’s driver did not appear to be wearing a seat belt; he was pronounced dead at the scene, Metro said. The Ford’s driver, 29-year-old Diego Janacua­-Cortez, suffered serious injuries, police said.

Metro said 12 people in the five vehicles were involved in the crash; three had moderate injuries, two had minor injuries and five were uninjured.

This was the 76th traffic-related fatality in Metro’s jurisdiction for 2016.

The Clark County coroner’s office will identify the dead man once his family has been notified. A Metro official on Friday night said speed factored in the crash. Metro didn’t say whether impairment factored in the crash.

Las Vegas Review-Journal writer Rachel Crosby contributed to this report. Contact Christian Bertolaccini at cbertolaccini@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Follow @bertolaccinic on Twitter.