Police say distracted pedestrian hit, killed near Las Vegas Strip
A 23-year-old Baltimore man died Sunday morning after he was struck by a car east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the crash just before 6 a.m. Sunday at Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, South, said Metro Lt. William Matchko.
The pedestrian died at the scene, Matchko said.
Please avoid the area of Sahara and Las Vegas Blvd as we investigate a fatal collision involving a pedestrian. As we welcome in the new year we will have an influx of cars and people. Please use caution so we are all safe.
— LVMPD Traffic Bureau (@LVMPD_Traffic) December 30, 2018
Metro Capt. Nick Farese said at the scene of the crash that police do not suspect the driver was impaired or speeding when the crash happened.
Based on surveillance footage, Farese said it appeared the pedestrian was looking at his phone while crossing Sahara from south to north in a crosswalk, but against a red light, when he was struck by a car heading eastbound.
Farese said the pedestrian did the right thing crossing in the crosswalk, but crossing while distracted and against a “no-walk” signal is “almost the same as jaywalking.”
Metro wrote in a release Sunday afternoon that the driver of the 2017 Honda Civic involved in the crash, a 22-year-old Las Vegas man, was not injured and stayed at the scene.
The pedestrian’s death marked the 138th traffic-related death in Metro’s jurisdiction this year, the release said.
Farese advised drivers and pedestrians to slow down and be aware this weekend because of an influx of tourists for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Sahara was closed to traffic in both directions for several hours after the crash. Live traffic cameras showed roads completely reopened about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com. Follow @lauxkimber on Twitter.
