A 74-year-old woman badly hurt in a two-vehicle crash in northwest Las Vegas in early March has died, turning what started as a routine drive into a fatal collision. She was pronounced dead April 8 at University Medical Center after being transported there from the crash scene. The wreck initially sent multiple people to local hospitals, including a 78-year-old man with serious injuries and a teenage driver with what police described as claimed injuries. The collision remains under investigation by local collision detectives.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, the crash happened March 7 when a 2006 Mercedes tried to turn left onto Del Webb Boulevard from West Lake Mead Boulevard and was struck on the right front by a 2013 Toyota RAV4. Inside the Mercedes were a 78-year-old man and the 74-year-old woman. The man was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, and the woman, who was initially hospitalized, later died at UMC. The RAV4 was driven by a 17-year-old who was taken to a hospital with claimed injuries.
Police investigation
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Collision Investigation Section is handling the case and has asked anyone with information or video of the crash to contact the department, according to the agency's press release feed. Investigators are working to piece together how the left turn was executed, using witness statements and any available footage as they sort out what led up to the impact and who may be at fault.
Local context
The crash unfolded at a busy northwest valley intersection, a spot where one bad call on a left turn can have life-altering consequences. As the investigation continues, detectives are reviewing medical records and collecting additional evidence, a reminder for neighborhood drivers that a seemingly routine turn across traffic can escalate into a tragedy in seconds.
