Tragedy struck early Christmas morning in central Las Vegas as a two-vehicle crash resulted in the death of one person and the arrest of a driver on suspicion of DUI. According to a report from News 3 Las Vegas, the collision occurred around 12:11 a.m. at the intersection of Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue. A 57-year-old Las Vegas man, who was a passenger in a Chevrolet Equinox, was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from the vehicle.
Investigators believe a 2009 Dodge Journey, driven by 20-year-old Giraldo Salas-Chacon, was speeding south on Maryland. Meanwhile, a 52-year-old man was operating the Chevrolet Equinox eastbound on Sahara and made a right turn on a red signal. In a fatal sequence of events, the Dodge slammed into the rear of the Chevrolet, causing it to overturn and land on its roof. The force of impact resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to five other individuals inside a Chevrolet.
Salas-Chacon was taken to UMC with minor injuries and exhibited signs of impairment. He has been booked into Clark County Detention Center. As reported by FOX5 Vegas, Salas-Chacon is facing charges of reckless driving and DUI resulting in death, with his first court appearance scheduled for Thursday morning. The incident has been marked as the 155th traffic-related fatality within the jurisdiction of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for the year 2024.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Collision Investigation Section is conducting a thorough investigation into the crash. "The passenger’s death marked the 155th traffic-related fatality in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s jurisdiction for 2024," police said FOX5 Vegas. This unfortunate event serves as yet another sobering reminder of the potentially grave consequences of reckless driving and driving under the influence.
