Clark County leads way in state highway death increase

CARSON CITY - During a year when highway deaths dropped appreciably in rural Nevada, they went way up in Clark County.

The number of people killed in roadway accidents in the state's most populous county had risen by 51 through Dec. 23, and traffic and police officials don't know exactly why.

Because of the 45 percent increase in deaths in the county, state officials project that 263 people will have died in 2012 in Nevada accidents, up 17 from all of 2011. Those final figures are not expected for another week.

As it stands now, fatalities statewide are up 7 percent from a year ago but still are far below the 400-plus deaths a year before the recession started.

Through Dec. 23, 165 people had died in roadway accidents in Clark County, up from 114 in 2011.

"It was a good year except for Clark County," said John Johansen, impaired-driving coordinator with the state Office of Traffic Safety. "We are hoping it was an extreme aberration."

His agency's statistics even show a 32 percent reduction - from 44 to 30 - in county fatalities where drinking was the primary factor.

Johansen said he could not give a definitive reason for Clark County's increase.

Jose Hernandez, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, said no single factor caused the increase in deaths in the county.

Hernandez said 24 of the pedestrian deaths were caused by pedestrian errors such as crossing in the middle of blocks.

Speed was responsible for 22 deaths in his jurisdiction and improper driving in 15 of the deaths. Improper driving is a step below reckless driving. Judges often reduce reckless driving to improper driving in court cases.

"All we can say is people must give full attention to their driving," Hernandez said. "We don't usually look for people crossing in the middle of blocks when we are driving, and pedestrians assume a vehicle will stop. Slow down and make eye contract. Don't be distracted when you are driving."

Johansen said the number of deaths would be down statewide except for the growth in Clark County.

In Clark County, 37 more people died in motor vehicle accidents than in 2011 and 11 more in pedestrian accidents.

Motorcycle deaths in the county remained at 24.

Rural counties had far fewer highway deaths. Deaths in Lyon County fell from 15 to 7, Elko County from 18 to 11 and Nye County from 15 to 8. Washoe County was up by 4.

While 2012 also was the first year in which fines were levied on people who drove while texting or using a "hands-on" cellphone, Johansen said it will take more study to determine whether those factors caused highway deaths.

He said that in most cases investigators would have to get a driver's cellphone records to determine whether they died or killed someone while using a cellphone. And even if that person was using a cellphone, you could not tell if it was a hands-free or hands-on device, Johansen noted.

Hernandez agreed that it is difficult to calculate the impact of the anti-cellphone and texting law.

"Most people are not going to say, 'I was on my cellphone,' or texting and not paying attention," he said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.