Woman hit by UPS truck dies

A 69-year-old woman died Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a UPS truck in the south valley, Las Vegas police said.

The crash occurred at 3:13 p.m. in the 2500 block of Swan Ridge Avenue, near Pebble Road and Eastern Avenue.

The name of the woman was not released. She was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Police initially said she was 50 but then later corrected her age and said she was a Henderson resident.

Police identified the driver of the UPS truck as David McCallum, 41, of Las Vegas.

Police spokesman Marcus Martin said late Tuesday afternoon that the crash occurred in a residential neighborhood and that it was too early to determine who was at fault. The Metropolitan Police Department's Fatal Detail was investigating. Police said the crash was the 60th vehicle-related fatality under the jurisdiction of Las Vegas police in 2011.

Police said the pedestrian was crossing Swan Ridge from south to north when the UPS truck, traveling west on Swan Ridge, struck the woman.

The collision continued the recent rash of deaths involving pedestrians and vehicles on Southern Nevada roads. Since Halloween night, Las Vegas police have responded to four fatal vehicle crashes involving pedestrians. Also, North Las Vegas and Henderson police have responded to at least one fatal vehicle-pedestrian crash since late October.

Martin said he was befuddled by the spate of fatal accidents, noting that police have spoken about the issue multiple times in the past week. He said both pedestrians and drivers have been at fault and need to be more attentive.

"People aren't slowing down or watching where they're going," Martin said. "Pedestrians aren't paying attention. We have pedestrians assuming traffic is going to stop for them."

In the neighborhood where the crash occurred Tuesday night, fewer than 10 people stood behind police tape taking in the scene. One man and woman were distraught; the woman visibly cried as the man comforted her.

The man, who declined to give his name, said he lived nearby and thought his friend might have been killed in the crash. He refused to identify her, saying police wouldn't talk to him.

"If it's our friend, she's part of our family," he said. "I hope it's not our friend. I hope there's been a mistake."

The UPS truck remained parked on the street as investigators analyzed the scene. A Clark County coroner's vehicle was parked behind the police tape.