Hit-and-Run Driver Sought After Pedestrian Critically Hurt on Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas police are searching for a dark-colored SUV whose driver fled after striking a man in a marked crosswalk early Saturday.
A man walking a dog was struck by a dark-colored SUV and left with life-threatening injuries in a hit-and-run crash at East Charleston Boulevard and North Mojave Road in Las Vegas at about 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The driver fled the scene without stopping, and investigators are now asking the public for help identifying the vehicle.
What Happened at the Charleston and Mojave Intersection
Surveillance video and physical evidence at the scene helped investigators piece together the sequence of events. The pedestrian was crossing Charleston Boulevard from south to north on the west side of the intersection, inside a marked crosswalk, but was doing so against the 'walk, don't walk' traffic control signal, police said.
An unknown dark-colored SUV was traveling westbound on Charleston Boulevard in the left travel lane as it approached Mojave Road when the pedestrian crossed into its path. The front of the SUV struck the right side of the pedestrian, projecting him forward to the west and onto the roadway, according to LVMPD.
Driver Fled; Victim Taken to UMC Trauma Center
The driver did not remain at the scene after the collision. Arriving medical personnel transported the pedestrian to the UMC Trauma Center, where he was admitted with life-threatening injuries, police said.
The crash remains under investigation by the LVMPD Collision Investigation Section. Anyone with information is asked to call 702-828-3595 or 702-828-3060. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
What we know
- The crash occurred at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday at East Charleston Boulevard and North Mojave Road.
- The pedestrian was walking a dog and crossing Charleston Boulevard in a marked crosswalk but against the traffic signal.
- A dark-colored SUV was traveling westbound on Charleston in the left travel lane when the pedestrian crossed into its path.
- The front of the SUV struck the right side of the pedestrian, projecting him forward onto the roadway.
- The driver did not remain at the scene and fled.
- The pedestrian was transported to the UMC Trauma Center with life-threatening injuries.
- Surveillance video and scene evidence were used by investigators to reconstruct the collision.
The take
Hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians are among the most difficult cases for traffic investigators to close quickly, particularly when the suspect vehicle is described only by color and body style. A 'dark-colored SUV' is an extremely broad descriptor in a metro area where SUVs represent a large share of registered vehicles, which means surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and residential doorbell systems becomes critical to narrowing the field. The LVMPD Collision Investigation Section, which handles these cases, routinely canvasses for additional video beyond what is immediately available at the scene. The detail that the pedestrian was crossing against the signal does not diminish the driver's legal obligation to remain at the scene; under Nevada law, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury is a felony regardless of fault. Early-morning hours on a major arterial like Charleston Boulevard also present a familiar challenge: lower traffic volume means fewer potential witnesses, but it can also mean the suspect vehicle was more visible on any cameras that were recording. The involvement of a dog adds a detail that may help witnesses recall the scene if they were in the area around 3 a.m.
Why it matters
Hit-and-run crashes on Las Vegas arterials have drawn sustained attention from traffic safety advocates, who note that pedestrian fatalities in the valley have remained elevated in recent years. East Charleston Boulevard is a high-volume corridor with a mix of residential and commercial activity, and crashes at its intersections are not uncommon. When drivers flee, victims lose the immediate benefit of a driver calling for help, and investigations become far more resource-intensive. Public tips through Crime Stoppers have historically been a meaningful source of leads in these cases.
What’s next
The LVMPD Collision Investigation Section is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 702-828-3595 or 702-828-3060, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 702-385-5555. No arrest has been reported and no suspect has been publicly identified.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the hit-and-run crash happen in Las Vegas?
The crash occurred at East Charleston Boulevard and North Mojave Road in Las Vegas.
When did the hit-and-run on Charleston Boulevard happen?
Police responded to the collision at about 3 a.m. Saturday.
What kind of vehicle struck the pedestrian?
Investigators are looking for an unknown dark-colored SUV that was traveling westbound on Charleston Boulevard at the time of the crash.
Where was the injured pedestrian taken?
Medics transported the pedestrian to the UMC Trauma Center, where he was admitted with life-threatening injuries.
How can someone report information about the hit-and-run?
Anyone with information can call the LVMPD Collision Investigation Section at 702-828-3595 or 702-828-3060, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 702-385-5555.