A 38-year-old driver is facing DUI and hit-and-run accusations after a pickup truck struck a 28-year-old pedestrian near the Las Vegas Strip, leaving the victim in critical condition, according to police. The crash unfolded near the busy intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, and the pedestrian was rushed to UMC Trauma for treatment.
The Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported that Metro identified the driver as 38-year-old Dario Nunez Jr. and said he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run-related charges. According to the paper, Metro officers said Nunez showed signs of impairment and was located north of where the collision occurred.
Police: How the Crash Unfolded
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, investigators say the pickup, described as a 2014 Ram 2500, was attempting a left turn from Las Vegas Boulevard onto Sahara Avenue when it drove onto the sidewalk. The truck hit a bus shelter, then left the scene heading west on Sahara, police said. Officers later found the driver north of the crash site and took him into custody, and Metro's Collision Investigation Section is now handling the case.
Victim's Condition and Investigation
Metro told the Review‑Journal that the pedestrian was thrown onto the roadway by the force of the impact and was taken to UMC Trauma in critical condition. The collision remains under investigation as detectives work to lock in the timeline and details of what happened.
Possible Charges and Penalties
Leaving the scene of a crash and driving while impaired can carry steep criminal and administrative penalties in Nevada, which can include jail time, fines, license revocation and ignition-interlock requirements, depending on the outcome of the investigation and any prior convictions. Nevada's impaired-driving laws are set out in Chapter 484C of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
How to Help Investigators
Metro is asking anyone with information or video of the crash to contact its Collision Investigation Section at 702-828-3595. Tips can also be left anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. Investigators are especially interested in dashcam or cellphone footage from the area around the time of the collision.
