Two Women Killed, Man Critically Injured in Head-On Crash on Fort Apache Road

A violent head-on collision on Saturday, February 1^st tragically killed two women, and left one man critically injured, multiple news outlets reported this week. The crash happened around 11:10 AM On Fort Apache Road near Tompkins Avenue, north of Tropicana Avenue.

The vehicles involved in the crash were a black Dodge Challenger, a silver Hyundai sedan, and a blue pickup truck. According to 3 News Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said the black Challenger was travelling north on Fort Apache, when it veered into oncoming traffic, and collided head-on with the Elantra.

Two people in the Elantra died. The Clark County Coroner’s Officer identified the victims as a 65-year-old woman and a 58-year-old woman. The driver of the Dodge Challenger, a 78-year-old Las Vegas man, was in critical condition and transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Police said impairment was not suspected in the crash.

Our thoughts go out to the family members of the victims of this tragic collision. The sudden and unexpected loss of a family member is heartbreaking and incredibly stressful. From having handled many wrongful death cases, we have seen the pain and hardship these accidents cause, and we have so much compassion for families facing unthinkable tragedies.

Causes of Head On Collisions

A crash where the front end of one vehicle collides with the front end of another is a head-on collision. The most frequent reason for a head-on collision is taking eyes off the road and driving while distracted. Other causes of head on collisions are having a medical event such as a seizure or stroke, driving while fatigued (falling asleep at the wheel), driving under the influence, not allowing enough space to safely pass another vehicle, or ignoring traffic signals or signs.

Police closed the road for several hours to investigate what happened, and most importantly why. Although they did say that impairment was not suspected, they did not provide a suspected reason as to why the driver of the black Dodge departed from his lane and into incoming traffic. Hopefully, the investigation will reveal the cause of the crash. If the law enforcement investigation is not conclusive to establish liability, a more thorough investigation may be required.

A wrongful death attorney can arrange an independent investigation into the cause of an accident.

Considering a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Accident

When a family member’s death is caused by another driver’s negligent actions, such as unsafely operating their vehicle, the victim’s family may pursue a wrongful death claim to compensate for funeral expenses, lost earnings, expected income and future family contributions, and loss of companionship.

To be able to recover money in a wrongful death claim, you will need to establish that someone else caused the accident through negligent or intentional actions, that you were related to the victim (show the victim was your spouse, child, parent, etc.), and that the victim’s death created financial hardship. 

Talk to an Experienced Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer

Before you accept any compensation for a wrongful death case, speak to attorney Zachary D. Clayton about your case. From being born and raised in Las Vegas, Zachary knows the community, the roads, the insurance companies, and most importantly, how to hold negligent parties accountable and fight for his clients, to maximize the value of a wrongful death claim.

Call us today to discuss your potential case. There are no fees unless we recover money for you.