LAS VEGAS, NV (KXNT) - Rare seems the day where southern Nevada doesn't have a fatal wreck on the roads, so it may come as a surprise to learn that fatal accidents in the Valley actually declined in 2019 versus 2018.
Statistics released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department showed that there were 112 people killed in 102 fatal car wrecks in 2019, versus 136 fatalities in 130 crashes in 2018.
Deadly DUI crashes made up 20% of the traffic fatalities in 2019 with 22 crashes in total. In 2018, that number was 54. Greater enforcement of DUI laws is cited by law enforcement as the primary reason for the decrease in deadly crashes involving DUI.
Failure to yield the right of way was cited as the main factor in 39 fatal wrecks, with excessive speed (30 wrecks) and pedestrian error (27 wrecks) close behind.
Nevada Highway Patrol released their 2019 statistics on Thursday. For the year of 2019, the Nevada Highway Patrol – Southern Command responded to 65 fatal traffic crashes, resulting in 70 deaths. The fatality number is slightly lower than the 2018 numbers of 65 fatal crashes resulting in 77 deaths.