9 killed in multiple car crash in North Las Vegas
(KLAS) — Nine people were killed in a Las Vegas car crash Saturday, including a family of three adults and four kids traveling in one vehicle, police said. The driver of a Dodge Challenger, identified as Gary Dean Robinson, 59, of North Las Vegas, was speeding and ran a red light at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Commerce Street, police said. Robinson died in the crash. In all, the crash involved 15 people, police said. Some of the vehicles were pushed into a vacant lot at the intersection.
On Sunday the Clark County Coroner’s Office identified eight of the nine victims. Their causes of death are blunt force trauma and the manners of death are accidental. Seven of the victims were traveling together in a Toyota Siena, a minivan, at the time of the crash. They have been identified as North Las Vegas residents: Fernando Yeshua Mejia, 5; Adrian Zacarias, 10; Lluvia Daylenn Zacarias, 13; Bryan Axel Zacarias, 15; Gabriel Mejia-Barrera, 23; David Mejia-Barrera, 25; and Jose Zacarias-Caldera, 35. “We have not seen a mass casualty traffic collision like this before,” Alex Cuevas, spokesman for the North Las Vegas Police Department, said. “There have been a total of confirmed nine deceased ages ranging from young juvenile to middle-aged adults.” The driver of another car involved was listed in serious condition at UMC. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who perished,” Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse said in a statement.
The family of those traveling in the minivan launched a GoFundMe page Sunday. It had already raised more than $21,000 by 7 p.m. Sunday. The identity of the passenger in the Dodge Challenger will be released after notification of next of kin. It is unknown if Robinson was impaired. The National Transportation Safety Board is launching a team to investigate the crash and will be on-site Monday, the NTSB said on Twitter.“Our hearts ache for the families & loved ones of the nine people killed in this senseless act — Kathy & I will be keeping them in our hearts & prayers during this very difficult time,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak wrote on Twitter. Local leaders took to social media on Sunday morning to express condolences. “My thoughts are with the families & loved ones of the nine people killed in this senseless and preventable tragedy,” Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen said on Twitter. “I urge all drivers to please slow down and be aware of their surroundings. We all have a responsibility to be safe and cautious on the roads.” The intersection where the crash occurred reopened early Sunday following a 12-hour closure. The crash happened less than 24 hours after a person was struck and killed by a pickup truck near Civic Center Drive and Cheyenne Avenue, which is less than 2 miles away. In mid-Jan., there was a crash at Cheyenne Avenue and Pecos Road that killed a woman in a hit-and-run crash. And in the fall of 2021, there was a crash at the same intersection that left two toddlers hurt.
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