A tragic collision on the evening of July 2 has left a local bicyclist in critical condition, following a sequence of events that involved two vehicles on S. Nellis Boulevard at the intersection with Mt. Rushmore Parkway. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 11:47 p.m. when 59-year-old David Brooks, riding his TREK Single Track 950 bicycle against the normal flow of traffic, was struck by a northbound 1997 Dodge Dakota and then by a southbound 2010 Chrysler 300C.
Brooks, who was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center's Trauma Unit, was reportedly crossing the raised center median before being struck by the Dodge. Exhibited signs of impairment, the Dodge driver, 44-year-old Anthony Wayne Tate, was arrested for DUI-related offenses. After being struck, ejecting onto the southbound lanes where the accident occurred, Brooks was then hit by the Chrysler driven by 22-year-old Leonardo Manuel Montanez, who displayed no signs of impairment. Montanez remained at the scene, cooperating with the authorities.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police's Collision Investigation Section is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The drivers of both vehicles involved, in addition to the passenger identified as 20-year-old Alexa Stevens in the Chrysler, reported no injuries from the crash. Stevens and Montanez stayed at the scene, assisting law enforcement with their inquiries, while Tate was processed at the Clark County Detention Center.
The accident highlights the dangers faced by bicyclists navigating roadways alongside motorized traffic, particularly when traffic rules are contravened. As Brooks fights for his life in the trauma unit, this collision seres as a somber reminder of the critical importance of roadway awareness for all.
