Early Saturday morning, a tragic accident on Summerlin Parkway claimed the life of one man and injured three others when a utility vehicle collided with an abandoned vehicle. The crash occurred just before 5 a.m. near the intersection of westbound Summerlin Parkway and Anasazi Drive in the Summerlin area. According to Nevada State Police, the utility vehicle struck an abandoned vehicle that was parked on the right shoulder of the roadway, causing the utility vehicle to roll over. One male occupant was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. Three other adults who were traveling in the same vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Law enforcement officials have indicated that the driver is suspected of being impaired at the time of the collision, which may have contributed to the fatal crash. The incident prompted authorities to close Summerlin Parkway in both directions at Anasazi Drive, with traffic being diverted via the Anasazi on and off ramps.

Nevada DUI Statistics Nevada continues to grapple with a significant impaired driving problem, with alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounting for approximately 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the state. The problem is particularly acute in Las Vegas, which has experienced 8,580 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 197 deaths and 7,337 injuries between 2018 and 2023. Las Vegas holds the concerning distinction of having the highest DUI arrest rate in the United States, with an average of 1,986 DUI arrests per 100,000 residents annually. The consequences are deadly—nationwide, one person dies in a drunk-driving crash approximately every 42 minutes, with drivers having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher being about four times more likely to crash than sober drivers. Nevada has implemented a "Zero Fatalities" initiative with enhanced enforcement, education, and prevention strategies coordinated through the Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety Zero Fatalities, but the recent incident on Summerlin Parkway underscores the ongoing nature of this public safety challenge and the devastating consequences that can result from a single impaired driving decision.

Location and Infrastructure

Summerlin Parkway is a major east-west limited-access highway that serves as a vital transportation artery connecting the master-planned community of Summerlin to central Las Vegas. The section near Anasazi Drive features multiple lanes in each direction with a posted speed limit of 65 mph, making it a high-speed corridor with significant daily traffic volume. This stretch of roadway includes narrow shoulders that are intended for emergency use only, not for parking vehicles. The area where the crash occurred is situated between the residential neighborhoods of The Canyons and The Trails in Summerlin, approximately 10 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. The intersection with Anasazi Drive features on and off ramps rather than a traditional intersection, creating merge points that require driver attention, especially during early morning hours when visibility may be limited.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Nevada law, driving under the influence that results in death is classified as a category B felony (NRS 484C.430), carrying potential imprisonment of 2-20 years and substantial fines. Victims of impaired driving crashes and their families may pursue compensation through multiple avenues, including the at-fault driver's insurance, their own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and potentially through dram shop liability if alcohol was served to a visibly intoxicated person. Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits (NRS 11.190), meaning affected parties must file legal action within this timeframe. Recoverable damages typically include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in fatal cases, funeral expenses and loss of financial support. The presence of an abandoned vehicle on the shoulder may also introduce questions of comparative negligence under Nevada's modified comparative negligence system.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: (702) 828-3111
• Nevada Highway Patrol Southern Command: (702) 486-4100
• University Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center): (702) 383-2000

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Nevada Office of Traffic Safety: (775) 684-7470
• Zero Fatalities Nevada: zerofatalitiesnv.com
• Nevada Department of Transportation: dot.nv.gov

Support Services:

• MADD Nevada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving): (775) 853-3700
• Nevada Victims of Crime Program: (702) 486-2740
• Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada: (702) 229-0426

Legal References:

• Nevada Revised Statutes - Traffic Laws: leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-484C.html
• Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles: dmvnv.com
• Nevada State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: (702) 382-0504