Posted on: February 3, 2023, 06:09h.
Last updated on: February 3, 2023, 06:09h.
A car collided into several taxi cabs near the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday. The motorist was being pursued by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) cruisers
The driver was apprehended by LVMPD officers. His name was not immediately released.
It turns out the car he was driving had been reported stolen, KTNV, a local TV station, said.
Specific charges were not immediately known. His case will be turned over to local prosecutors.
It appears there were no serious injuries suffered from the collisions, based on initial news reports.
The crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. near Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road.
When LVMPD officers realized the car was stolen, they attempted to stop the motorist.
But the driver “attempted to flee and collided with some taxis and came to a stop,” the police report said, KTNV reported.
Traffic Impacted
Because the crash took place during rush hour, traffic in the area was impacted. Two right lanes on Tropicana Avenue heading west were blocked as police investigated the collision.
Wednesday’s accident follows last Friday’s collision and ensuring car fire on the Strip.
A LVMPD officer and good Samaritan rescued the injured driver with seconds to spare as that car became engulfed in flames.
New details on the much-publicized rescue were revealed this week.
Driver Fell Asleep
The driver of the car, Alexander Jay Dawkins, apparently fell asleep at the wheel shortly before the crash, police said. His car then struck a palm tree in a center median divider.
The driver of the vehicle … appeared to be pushing the accelerator on the vehicle as the engine was revving and the tires were spinning,” a LVMPD supplemental arrest report released on Thursday said, KLAS, another local station, reported.
When officers had a chance to interview Dawkins at University Medical Center, he told them he didn’t remember details surrounding the crash, KLAS said.
One LVMPD officer wrote down that when he spoke with Dawkins, his eyes “appeared to be watery and droopy,” the report said.
Dawkins was injured in the accident. He appears to have lost consciousness, according to news reports.
He was charged with DUI, failure to properly maintain a travel lane or improper lane change, and failing to show proof of insurance.
It remains unclear what substance led to Dawkins’ alleged intoxication.
That accident, like Wednesday’s, also tied up traffic. The location is very close to the Venetian and several other casinos.
It was also revealed this week that LVMPD Officer Derek Stebbins and passerby Justin Mouser were the two men who rescued Dawkins. Mouser was visiting Las Vegas from Kentucky, where he is a barber.
