A late-night walk turned fatal in west Las Vegas early Thursday when a pedestrian was struck in a hit-and-run near Flamingo Road and El Capitan Way, according to police. The collision was reported at approximately 1:21 a.m., and the driver took off before officers arrived. The pedestrian did not survive.
According to FOX5, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the victim was crossing the intersection when they were hit. LVMPD's Fatal Team has been assigned to the case, and investigators have not released additional details about the victim's identity or the suspect vehicle.
Police investigation
LVMPD typically assigns deadly crashes to its Collision Investigation Section and Fatal Detail, which work to piece together how a collision unfolded. Recent department press releases describe investigators leaning on physical evidence at the scene, witness interviews and video surveillance to reconstruct the events, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Recent context
Hit-and-run pedestrian deaths have been a stubborn problem across the valley, with law enforcement and local media repeatedly asking the public for help after fatal crashes. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has previously detailed several incidents in which drivers fled and investigators later issued appeals for tips.
How to help
Anyone with information about Thursday's crash is asked to contact LVMPD's Collision Investigation Section at 702-828-3595 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555, according to the department. Detectives say that tips, photos or video that could help identify the vehicle or driver may be crucial to moving the case forward.
