Man critical after crash near Vegas welcome sign

A 21-year-old man is in critical condition and after an early Friday crash in a construction zone near the Strip, according to Las Vegas police.

It happened about 3 a.m. on Las Vegas Boulevard South, near the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, when a 2010 Kia Soul, driven by 21-year-old Russell R. Slouffman Jr., ran into the rear of a 2004 Isuzu flatbed that was being used for construction work purposes, police said.

The impact caused the Isuzu to move left into the welcome sign’s parking lot. The Isuzu was parked behind an unoccupied and parked 2005 Ford F650 Flatbed that was also hit by the Kia Soul before it came to a rest.

Slouffman and the driver of the Isuzu, 35-year-old Francisco Barron, were taken to University Medical Center. Barron had only minor injuries.

The Isuzu was equipped with a rear-flashing directional warning sign that had flashing right arrows to divert traffic into the right lane around a welding crew working on pedestrian fencing at the Las Vegas sign, police said.

The crash remains under investigation. There was no word on whether anyone faces charges.

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma