Las Vegas, NV (May 23, 2026) – One person is dead, and two others are in critical condition after a two-car crash on Boulder Highway at Desert Horizons, near Russell Road, in the southeast valley, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Officials said the crash happened just after 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Police said it involved the driver of a 2025 Hyundai Elantra and the driver and passenger of a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica.
Police identified the Hyundai’s driver as Zachary Zwick. Police said he sped northbound on Boulder Highway, south of Desert Horizons. At the same moment, the Chrysler Pacifica was stopped at a posted stop sign westbound on Desert Horizons to make a left turn. Police said the crash occurred when the Pacifica drove into the intersection in front of the Hyundai. Both cars were turned in the northwest direction, police say.
Arriving medical personnel said the driver of the Chrysler was beyond medical resuscitation and died at the scene. He was a 55-year-old man. Zwick and Chrysler’s passenger, a 43-year-old woman, were taken to Sunrise Hospital, where both remain in critical condition, police say.
Police say Zwick did not show signs of impairment. He was booked in absentia for reckless driving charges.
The crash remains under investigation by the LVMPD.
A fatal crash involving a speeding driver and a criminal booking already on record means this case is moving fast, both in court and in the insurance system. The family of the man killed, and the woman still in critical condition, have legal rights that must be protected now.
Fatal Crashes on Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, Nevada
A speeding driver who has already been booked on reckless driving charges creates 2 parallel legal tracks: a criminal case pursued by the state, and a civil personal injury or wrongful death claim pursued by the victims and their families. These two tracks run independently; a conviction, plea, or dismissal in criminal court does not determine the outcome of a civil claim.
Here is what the victim’s family and the injured passenger should do now:
- Do not speak to Zwick’s insurance company without an attorney. Adjusters will move quickly once an at-fault driver has been identified and charged. Any recorded statement made without legal counsel can be used to limit compensation.
- Preserve all evidence immediately. Medical records, hospital bills, photographs of the vehicles, and any dashcam or surveillance footage from businesses along Boulder Highway should be secured before it is lost or overwritten.
- Do not accept an early settlement offer. Initial offers from insurance companies rarely account for the full scope of damages in a fatal crash, including funeral costs, lost income, loss of companionship, and future financial support for dependents.
- Understand the criminal case does not replace the civil claim. A reckless driving charge is prosecuted by the state. The family and the injured passenger must file their own separate civil claims to recover compensation. Waiting for the criminal case to resolve is not required, and waiting too long can cost the family their right to file.
Nevada’s statute of limitations for wrongful death is 2 years from the date of death under NRS 11.190(4)(e). For the injured passenger, the deadline to file a personal injury claim is also 2 years from the date of the crash under NRS 11.190(4)(e). Both deadlines are firm.
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence standard under NRS 41.141. Even if the Pacifica’s driver is found to share some fault for entering the intersection, the family may still recover compensation, provided their loved one is found to be less than 51% at fault. The existence of a reckless driving charge against Zwick is significant evidence of fault in a civil claim.
Contact Our Las Vegas Car Accident Attorneys
At Ace Law Group, our skilled Las Vegas car accident attorneys have recovered millions for victims and families across the valley. We understand the specific legal dynamics of crashes involving reckless driving charges, and we know how to use a criminal record to strengthen a civil claim.
We handle wrongful death and serious injury cases on a contingency fee basis: no upfront costs, no fees unless we win. The family of the man killed, and the woman still fighting for her life, deserve legal representation that moves as fast as this case is moving. Call us at 702-508-7675 today. We respond promptly to every inquiry.
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