Ty O’Neil via AP
In this photo provided by Ty O’Neil, Las Vegas city marshals and security officers investigate a pedestrian crash at the downtown Fremont Street Experience casino mall on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, after authorities say a man and woman from New Mexico were struck and killed by an SUV at a busy pedestrian street crossing. Las Vegas police say the driver left the scene and was later arrested on felony driving under the influence and reckless driving charges.
Published Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 | 12:54 p.m.
Updated Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 | 1:43 p.m.
A Las Vegas woman was arrested for allegedly fleeing the scene after she hit and killed two pedestrians with an SUV while driving impaired near the Fremont Street Experience on Wednesday night, according to Metro Police.
Mykael Terrell, 28, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on counts of reckless driving, duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury and DUI, according to jail records.
Terrell was driving on 4th Street about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday when she entered the intersection at Fremont Street on a green light and hit the pedestrians, who were crossing the street against a "don't walk" signal, police said. Terrell drove away from the scene and did not return, police said.
The pedestrian crossing is a marked walkway beneath traffic signals on a three-lane, one-way street. It is often crowded with people making their way between casinos, stores, kiosks, entertainers, bars and restaurants beneath a four-block-long lighted video canopy and a zip-line attraction.
One of the pedestrians, a 44-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The other, a 51-year-old woman, was taken to University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said. Both victims were from Monument, New Mexico, police said.
Terrell was located by law enforcement officers and displayed signs of impairment, police said.
Terrell appeared in court in handcuffs Thursday and was not asked to speak by a local judge who set bail at $100,000 and scheduled her to appear Jan. 4 on the criminal charges that could get her a mandatory minimum prison sentence of two-to-20 years for each death if she is convicted. She will be asked to enter a plea if she is indicted or ordered by a judge to stand trial.
A deputy public defender temporarily assigned to represent Terrell, Marissa Pensabene, said in court that Terrell is a single mother of a 3-year-old who has lived in Las Vegas for more than three years and works as an account executive for an internet company. Pensabene was not immediately available outside court to comment.
Judge Holly Stoberski said that if Terrell posts bail, she cannot drive and must wear an ankle bracelet electronic monitor.
The collision remains under investigation, police said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
