📰 Deadly Morning Commute: Skateboarder Killed in Collision at Nellis and Twain, Safety Concerns Rise

LAS VEGAS, NV – The dangerous intersection of Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue became the scene of another tragic traffic fatality this morning, claiming the life of a man riding a skateboard. The fatal collision, which occurred around 10:30 AM, brought the intersection to a standstill for hours and cast a grim spotlight on the continuing, alarming spike in pedestrian and non-motorist traffic deaths across the valley.

The deceased, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, adds a stark statistic to the latest traffic report from Metro Police, which already shows fatalities involving pedestrians are up 5% from the same period last year.

The Chaos at Nellis and Twain

The crash scene was extensive, prompting authorities to close off the intersection, including access to a nearby gas station, until well into the afternoon—around 2:30 PM. Initial police reports confirm that a man on a skateboard was struck by at least one vehicle.

Details surrounding the exact sequence of events remain sparse, but a critical eyewitness, identified only as Cameron, provided a chilling account to 8 News Now Reporter Jasmin Woke, and was the one who placed the initial emergency call to police.

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Cameron described a rapid and devastating sequence: “The skateboard… it’s coming down the street. First car turned, they knock them off the skateboard. That’s when he went under the car, rolled over him.”

Tragically, the collision did not end there. Cameron added, “There’s a second car that was turning right as well. He said he didn’t see the guy on the ground already, so he kind of rolled over into [him].”

When the witness approached the scene, he reported that the man was unresponsive. This account suggests a dual impact—the initial collision knocking the victim down, followed by a secondary vehicle striking him on the pavement, potentially compounding the injuries.

The Driver and the Investigation

Crucially, police have confirmed that the vehicle involved in the initial collision stayed on the scene and the driver is cooperating fully with investigators. Furthermore, police do not believe that the driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

This detail, common in many urban traffic fatalities, means the incident is not being immediately investigated as a potential DUI vehicular homicide, but rather as an in-depth traffic collision involving right-of-way, visibility, and speed.

As of this report, police have made no word yet on who was at fault. Accident reconstruction teams from the LVMPD will now be tasked with analyzing skid marks, vehicle damage, and witness testimony to determine liability. The Clark County Coroner is expected to officially release the victim’s name once family members have been informed.

A Valley-Wide Crisis in Safety

The tragedy at Nellis and Twain is more than an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a larger, deadly trend engulfing the valley. The latest figures from Metro Police underscore a crisis in traffic safety, particularly for those not protected by a vehicle chassis.

The 5% increase in pedestrian fatalities from the previous year is a grim indicator that existing infrastructure, enforcement efforts, and public awareness campaigns are struggling to keep pace with the hazards of increased traffic density.

Skateboarders, much like traditional pedestrians and bicyclists, are among the most vulnerable road users. They rely entirely on driver awareness, clear sightlines, and adequate infrastructure—such as well-marked crosswalks and dedicated lanes—for their safety. In areas like the busy commercial corridor of Nellis and Twain, where traffic volume is high and turning movements are frequent, the risks multiply exponentially.

Safety advocates argue that the clean toxicology report of the driver in this crash highlights that impairment is not the only killer on the road; distraction, impatience, and failure to scan the roadway adequately for vulnerable users are equally culpable factors.

Community Reaction and the Need for Change

The area around Nellis and Twain is a bustling hub, full of homes, businesses, and transit stops. The death has sent ripples of anxiety through the local community, where residents frequently walk, bike, or ride skateboards to jobs and errands.

“We see people cutting across here all the time,” one local resident noted, preferring to remain anonymous. “It’s just too fast. People don’t slow down for turns. It was only a matter of time.”

The tragedy serves as a brutal reminder for all motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially when turning, and to always assume there are pedestrians, cyclists, or skateboarders present, regardless of right-of-way.

Police departments across the valley routinely issue public service announcements emphasizing safety, urging:

Drivers: To put down phones, obey speed limits, and be vigilant for non-motorized traffic, particularly when making turns or driving near intersections.

Vulnerable Road Users (Pedestrians/Skateboarders): To use designated crosswalks, wear bright or reflective clothing, and avoid jaywalking, especially during non-daylight hours.

The Road Ahead

As the investigation into Daniel Ortega’s crash concludes, the city must address the systemic issues contributing to these rising fatality rates. Whether through increased enforcement, engineering improvements (like safer crosswalk designs or reduced speed limits in high-pedestrian zones), or more aggressive public outreach, the goal remains the same: ensuring that a simple act like riding a skateboard down the street does not become a death sentence.

The identity of the man killed today will eventually be released, moving the victim from a statistic to a person mourned by friends and family. Until then, the scene at Nellis and Twain stands as a chilling monument to the steep price of traffic negligence in the Las Vegas Valley.