Las Vegas, NV (July 16, 2026) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash that killed a 63-year-old man at West Flamingo Road and South El Capitan Way early Thursday, July 16, 2026. One driver has been arrested. A second driver remains unidentified.
The collision happened around 1:21 a.m., according to LVMPD.
Investigators said a 2018 BMW X4 was traveling westbound on West Flamingo when a pedestrian was crawling northbound in a marked crosswalk against the pedestrian signal and entered the BMW’s path. Police said the front left of the BMW struck the pedestrian, redirecting him westbound into the intersection. The BMW did not remain at the scene and continued west on Flamingo, LVMPD said.
Moments later, a dark-colored SUV approached and ran over the pedestrian as he lay in the roadway, police said. That driver also failed to remain at the scene and continued westbound.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. LVMPD said his death is the 62nd traffic-related fatality in the department’s jurisdiction in 2026.
Police identified the BMW driver as Tomas Espino, 35, of Las Vegas. LVMPD said Espino and the BMW were later located, and Espino was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on hit-and-run-related charges.
The crash remains under investigation.
Losing a family member in a crash where two drivers fled the scene leaves grief compounded by unanswered questions. Nevada law gives families specific rights in this situation, including rights that exist even before the second driver is found.
Fatal Hit-and-Run in Las Vegas, Nevada
Can the family pursue a claim before the criminal case ends? Yes. A wrongful death claim is a civil action that runs separately from any criminal charges. The family does not have to wait for the criminal case against the arrested driver, or the identification of the second driver, to begin protecting their claim.
Does crossing against the signal end the family’s case? No. A pedestrian crossing against the pedestrian signal does not automatically determine fault. Nevada follows a modified comparative fault standard (NRS 41.141), meaning the family may still recover compensation provided their loved one was less than 51% at fault. Fault in a double hit-and-run involving two separate impacts is a complex question that requires an independent investigation, including 3 key evidence sources: intersection camera footage, vehicle damage analysis, and the medical examiner’s findings on which impact caused death.
What if the second driver is never identified? Even when the at-fault driver has not been identified, a claim may be available under the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage. Many Nevada families do not realize a household auto policy can cover a pedestrian fatality. An attorney can review the policy at no cost.
What can a wrongful death claim cover? Nevada wrongful death claims (NRS 41.085) allow eligible family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, to recover damages including funeral costs, lost financial support, and the family’s grief and loss of companionship.
What is the filing deadline? Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death (NRS 41.085). For this crash, that deadline is July 16, 2028. Evidence such as intersection video and vehicle data can disappear far sooner, which makes early preservation letters critical.
Contact Our Las Vegas Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Ace Law Group is a Las Vegas personal injury law firm founded by attorney Patrick W. Kang. Our firm represents injured people and grieving families across Clark County in practice areas: car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, and more.
Crashes like the one at Flamingo and El Capitan sit at the center of that work. When a driver flees the scene, our attorneys move quickly to preserve intersection camera footage, obtain the police investigation file, identify every available insurance policy, and pursue uninsured motorist coverage when a driver is never found. The family handles their grief. Our pedestrian accident attorneys in Las Vegas, NV, handle the insurance companies, the paperwork, and the deadlines.
That approach has recovered $175M+ for Nevada clients, including a $7.1 million award in a vehicle-versus-pedestrian traumatic brain injury case.
We handle wrongful death and pedestrian cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no fees unless we win.
Call 702-508-7675 for a free consultation today!
