Relay participants mourn

Jeremy Kunz started a 171-mile relay race Friday in Logandale, an endeavor he'd undertaken twice before.

The 33-year-old from Kamas, Utah, and his wife, Melinda Kunz, captured the moment with a photo at the starting line of the Ragnar Relay, a two-day event in Clark County over the weekend.

But Kunz didn't cross the finish line with his team members.

The Utah man was struck and killed by a driver accused of being drunk about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Kunz was passing water to a teammate near the intersection of Horizon Ridge Parkway and Stephanie Street in Henderson. He was there to cheer the running members of his team, the Wanabees, who were on the 23rd leg of the relay, race spokeswoman Dawn Macke said Monday.

Witnesses said a motorist travelling east on Horizon Ridge lost control of his vehicle and hit Kunz. The vehicle skidded and then rolled over.

The driver fled on foot but Henderson police were able to track him down.

Officers arrested 25-year-old Joshua Salayich of Henderson in the death of a pedestrian while under the influence of alcohol early Sunday. Salayich is charged with driving under the influence, which resulted in a death, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting an officer. He is currently being held at the Henderson jail.

Salayich has no criminal history with the department, Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said.

Speed and alcohol are believed to have contributed to the incident.

Kunz was pronounced dead at the scene. He died of multiple blunt-force injuries, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

Kunz's family couldn't be reached for comment Monday. Macke said family members are taking some comfort in knowing he died doing what he loved.

Thom Reilly, a corporate vice president for Harrah's Entertainment, also ran the race Saturday and said all participants were required to wear reflective gear if they took part in the relay at night. Reilly, who did not witness the accident, said the race was detoured by police after Kunz was killed.

Macke said there has never been a fatality during a Ragnar Relay. She said Kunz's family didn't want officials to stop the race after he died.

"That's not something they wanted to see happen," she said.

Reporter Adrienne Packer contributed to this report. Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.