78-year-old man dies in car crash with robbery suspect

A 78-year-old Las Vegas man was killed Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle wreck on Tropicana Avenue, just west of Durango Drive, that Las Vegas police say was caused by an armed robbery suspect.

The 10:48 a.m. crash happened in the 8800 block of Tropicana, when a Ford Explorer and a Dodge Intrepid collided, witnesses told police.

Both vehicles were heading east on Tropicana when the driver and passenger of the Dodge began fighting with each other, police said. The passenger, whom police identified as armed robbery suspect Zachery Valenzuela, 27, grabbed the steering wheel and forced the car into the westbound lanes of Tropicana.

The driver, 27-year-old Nikish Bangerter, steered the car back to the eastbound side and struck the Ford, causing both vehicles to go out of control, police said.

The Ford flipped onto its roof and the driver, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, was ejected, police said. He was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name was withheld by police.

Valenzuela ran away from the wreck and was arrested a little later at a gas station in the 3700 block of Town Center Drive. He was charged with one count of robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with the April 21 robbery of a fast-food restaurant, police said.

Valenzuela may face additional charges for his role in Tuesday's wreck, police said.

Bangerter was not injured, but was arrested at the scene.

Investigators believe passenger interference was the cause of this crash. The collision remains under investigation.