Hit-run driver sought after killing bicyclist on Flamingo
A Metro Police officer shines a flashlight on a bicycle after a fatal hit-and-run accident on Flamingo Road Friday, Jan. 25, 2019.
Published Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 | 3:36 p.m.
Updated Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 | 6:20 p.m.
Metro Police identified this man as a person of interest in a hit-and-run collision in which a bicyclist was killed at Flamingo Road and Tuscany Casino Drive on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019.
In an attempt to flee the scene of a crash near the Strip, the motorist sped off. But it wasn’t long before he hit and killed a man riding his bicycle in a designated lane, according to Metro Police.
The suspect then fled again, ditched his Honda Odyssey minivan at a nearby casino and took off on foot, shedding clothes to try to change his appearance, Capt. Nick Farese said.
Speaking about Metro’s 10th vehicle fatality investigation 25 days into the year, Farese described it as a “blatant disregard for human life … this particular one (is) disgusting.”
After the crash, police sent out a photo of a man they said was the suspect. But the man, who was still being sought, was just a “person of interest” for now, Farese said in the evening.
Farese would not comment on how the ID of the person was found or where.
The first crash happened near Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, Farese said. Further details on that crash were not immediately available, but Farese said the minivan’s driver fled east.
“As he was racing to try to get away from that,” Farese said, the minivan struck a bicyclist, who was in a hybrid bus-bike lane doing the right thing.
For some time after the collision, which was reported at about 2:30 p.m., the bicyclist remained on top of the hood until he fell off, Farese said.
The victim, only described as a man in his mid-50s, died at the scene, Farese said.
The minivan was ditched at the Silver Sevens resort, Farese said. Its driver again took off, this time on foot, removing some clothes.
The suspect was last seen eastbound on foot, Farese said. Investigators were confident cameras in the area would help them identify the driver, at least visually.
“I sound like a broken record,” said Farese, who’s become a public face in Metro’s awareness campaign about irresponsible driving in Las Vegas, “but it’s 100 percent avoidable. There’s no excuse to get into an accident and leave the scene, speed off from that one and get into another accident, and hit another human being.”
The crash snarled traffic as Flamingo remained closed this evening in both directions from Paradise Road to Koval Lane.
A bicycle lay near the victim’s body, which was draped with a white sheet. A pair of officers walked nearby, probing the crash.
Answering questions about the bike lane, Farese pointed back at a white sign, noting that the cyclist was obeying the rules of the road.
Anyone with information about this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com.