On the morning of June 13, 2026, a fatal two-vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of East Tropicana Avenue and Tamarus Street in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a 2021 Dodge Charger was traveling eastbound on E. Tropicana Avenue when the driver failed to stop for a red traffic signal and struck a 2003 Toyota Camry that was executing a lawful left-turn westbound onto E. Tropicana Avenue with a green signal. The driver of the Toyota Camry, a 36-year-old Las Vegas man, was transported to Sunrise Trauma, where he was later pronounced deceased. The driver of the Dodge Charger, identified as 22-year-old Jerry Hughes, fled the scene on foot and was later located showing signs of impairment. He was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of DUI resulting in death, duty to stop resulting in death, and reckless driving resulting in death. This collision marks the 54th traffic-related fatality in LVMPD’s jurisdiction for 2026.
The reported facts in this case raise several significant legal issues, including potential liability for running a red light, the legal consequences of leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and the availability of wrongful death claims under Nevada law. At our personal injury practice at the Brian Boyer Injury Firm, cases involving alleged DUI, hit-and-run conduct, and fatal injuries require prompt investigation to preserve evidence and protect the rights of surviving family members. The collision remains under investigation, and final fault findings may depend on the full Metro report and preserved video. Read a local news report here.
Reported Details and What They May Mean for Your Claim
The following key facts are drawn from the LVMPD press release and corroborating news coverage:
- T-bone intersection crash at E. Tropicana Avenue and Tamarus Street, in the eastern Las Vegas valley, on the morning of June 13, 2026
- The Dodge Charger was traveling eastbound and reportedly failed to stop for a red light; the Toyota Camry was traveling northbound on Tamarus and turning left with a green signal
- The front right of the Dodge Charger struck the front left of the Toyota Camry; both vehicles came to rest in the roadway
- The Camry driver, a 36-year-old male, was transported to Sunrise Trauma and later pronounced deceased from injuries sustained in the collision
- The Charger driver fled the scene on foot without rendering aid, exchanging information, or contacting police
- Jerry Hughes, 22, was subsequently located, showed signs of impairment, and was arrested on charges of DUI resulting in death, duty to stop resulting in death, and reckless driving resulting in death
- Evidence at the scene included witness statements and video surveillance, according to LVMPD
These reported facts may be significant for evaluating multiple theories of liability. A lawyer would examine whether the Charger driver’s alleged failure to obey the traffic signal and subsequent flight from the scene affected the strength of any civil claims brought by the Camry driver’s surviving family members. The DUI arrest, if supported by toxicology results, could also be relevant to the damages analysis under Nevada law.
Preserving key records is a priority in cases like this. Important evidence typically includes the official LVMPD crash report, traffic and surveillance camera footage from the intersection and nearby businesses, 911 and dispatch recordings, vehicle black box (EDR) data from both vehicles, witness statements, medical and autopsy records, and any blood draw or toxicology results from the arrested driver. Traffic camera footage in particular may be overwritten within days, so a lawyer would act quickly to issue a preservation letter to relevant agencies and businesses.
Legal Issues in a Fatal DUI T-Bone and Hit-and-Run Crash Under Nevada Law
Investigators will determine the exact cause of this crash. The following is a general overview of how Nevada law applies to this type of accident.
When a driver allegedly runs a red light and strikes another vehicle, liability in a civil claim often turns on who had the right-of-way and whether any traffic violations occurred. If the Charger driver failed to obey a red traffic control signal as reported, that may constitute a violation of NRS 484B.300, which governs obedience to traffic control devices. Such a violation could be used as evidence of negligence per se in a civil claim, meaning the violation itself may help establish the standard of care was breached. A lawyer would seek the police diagram, traffic camera footage, and witness statements to confirm the signal status at the time of impact.
Nevada law also requires drivers involved in a collision to remain at the scene, render reasonable assistance, and exchange information (NRS 484E.010). The reported flight from the scene by the Charger driver is a criminal offense and may also be relevant to the civil case. While the focus of a civil claim is typically on establishing negligence rather than criminal conduct, the circumstances of leaving an injured person without rendering aid may be considered by a jury when evaluating the full picture of damages. For families pursuing a wrongful death claim in Nevada, this type of conduct could also factor into whether punitive damages are worth exploring.
Because Jerry Hughes was arrested on charges of DUI resulting in death according to LVMPD, the DUI allegation is directly relevant to the civil case. Under NRS 484C.110, it is unlawful to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. A DUI arrest, if supported by blood draw results and other evidence, is typically treated as strong evidence of negligence in a civil proceeding. Under NRS 42.005, punitive damages may potentially be available if the at-fault driver acted with oppression, fraud, or malice. Depending on later-developed facts, a lawyer may examine whether a DUI finding meets that standard, though it is a high bar and the outcome would depend on the specific evidence developed during litigation. Learn more about how a Las Vegas DUI accident attorney approaches these claims.
Nevada’s modified comparative negligence rule under NRS 41.141 applies to crash injury and death claims. Generally, an injured person or their survivors may recover so long as their combined fault does not exceed the fault of the party or parties against whom recovery is sought. Any recovery is reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault. Based on the reported facts, comparative fault arguments by the defense in this case would likely focus on driver behavior, vehicle data, and the signal timing at the intersection.
Under NRS 11.190(4)(d), wrongful death claims in Nevada generally carry a two-year statute of limitations from the date of death. Missing this deadline typically bars the claim permanently, making early legal consultation important for surviving family members.
How a Lawyer May Investigate a Fatal DUI Hit-and-Run Crash in Las Vegas
Serious injury and fatal crashes usually require a fast, thorough legal investigation. In a case with reported DUI, a red-light violation, a fatality, and a hit-and-run arrest, the volume of potentially relevant evidence is significant, and time is a factor.
- Obtain the LVMPD crash report and Collision Investigation Section findings. This document typically includes the responding officer’s observations, a crash diagram, witness contact information, citations issued, and any field sobriety or impairment notes. It is generally available within 10 to 14 days and is a foundational piece of evidence for a wrongful death claim.
- Preserve intersection and business surveillance footage immediately. The LVMPD press release notes that video surveillance was part of the evidence gathered at the scene. However, footage from nearby businesses or additional cameras may not yet have been secured. Footage is often overwritten within 3 to 7 days, so a lawyer would send preservation letters to businesses and agencies without delay.
- Obtain vehicle black box (EDR) data from the Dodge Charger. Most modern vehicles, including 2021 Dodge Chargers, are equipped with event data recorders that can capture pre-crash speed, throttle position, braking, and seatbelt use. This data may be critical to establishing the speed at which the Charger entered the intersection. A lawyer would issue a spoliation letter to prevent the vehicle from being repaired, resold, or destroyed before the data is extracted.
- Obtain toxicology and blood draw results. Hughes was reportedly arrested for DUI resulting in death. Blood draw results, which may take weeks to process, would be requested through the criminal case and may later be subpoenaed for the civil matter. The timing and chain of custody for those draws would also be scrutinized.
- Interview witnesses identified in the police report and media accounts. Witness statements collected shortly after the crash carry significant weight. A lawyer would seek to interview any witnesses identified in the LVMPD report and by news outlets covering the incident.
- Work with an accident reconstruction expert if fault is disputed. Even with video surveillance and witness statements, a defense attorney may challenge the speed, point of impact, or signal timing. An accident reconstruction expert could analyze vehicle damage patterns, skid marks, and camera angles to independently confirm the sequence of events.
This evidence would be used to support a wrongful death claim on behalf of the Camry driver’s surviving family members, addressing liability, potential comparative fault, the full extent of damages, and available insurance coverage. A lawyer would also review the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance policy, as well as any other potentially applicable coverage, to assess the resources available to compensate the family’s losses. If you were involved in a hit-and-run crash and are dealing with coverage questions, reviewing your own uninsured motorist coverage options with a lawyer is an important early step.
In addition to a wrongful death claim, a lawyer would assess the full range of compensable damages, including the decedent’s pain and suffering before death, loss of future income, loss of companionship for family members, funeral and burial expenses, and related economic losses. The specific damages available in a Nevada wrongful death claim depend on the relationship between the claimant and the deceased, and a lawyer would identify all potentially eligible family members.
How The Brian Boyer Injury Firm Helps Families After a Fatal Crash in Las Vegas
If we were representing the family of the Camry driver, our immediate focus would be on securing the crash report, sending preservation letters for surveillance footage and vehicle data, and documenting the family’s losses before evidence is lost or memories fade. In cases involving a reported DUI arrest and a hit-and-run, the criminal case may move forward on its own timeline, but the civil wrongful death claim operates independently and requires its own investigation and evidence-gathering process. Avoiding early mistakes with insurers, such as providing recorded statements before consulting an attorney, is an important first step.
In the longer term, a lawyer would document the full economic and non-economic impact of the loss, including the decedent’s earning history and future earning capacity, the emotional toll on surviving family members, and future losses that are difficult to quantify without legal and expert support. The Brian Boyer Injury Lawyer Firm can help investigate potentially available insurance policies, protect and preserve evidence, document the family’s losses, and manage communications with insurers throughout the process.
Even in cases where fault appears strongly supported by the reported evidence, experienced defense attorneys and insurance adjusters may look for ways to minimize exposure. A lawyer familiar with DUI wrongful death cases in Las Vegas and Clark County would anticipate those arguments and build the case with that in mind.
Get Legal Help After a Fatal Crash in Las Vegas
Families of people killed in Las Vegas car crashes involving alleged DUI and hit-and-run conduct may have legal options worth evaluating, even when the criminal case is still in progress. The civil wrongful death process moves on its own track and has its own deadlines under Nevada law. Waiting too long can put important evidence and legal rights at risk.
If you or your family were affected by this crash or one like it, contact the Brian Boyer Injury Firm for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless there is a recovery. Our team handles car accident and wrongful death cases throughout Las Vegas and Clark County, and we are available to answer your questions and help you understand your options.