Latest news with #ArborViewHighSchool
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘It's very awful': Pedestrian deaths put Las Vegas road safety in focus
LAS VEGAS - As he stood on the steps of the Regional Justice Center the morning of May 3, Arbor View senior Brayden Boulter didn't talk about his plans for the future, his upcoming graduation ceremony or his last days as a high schooler. Instead, he talked about what he called a "dangerous" crosswalk steps away from his high school in the northwest Las Vegas Valley. That's where one of Boulter's senior classmates, McKenzie Scott, 18, was struck and killed by a suspected impaired driver while trying to cross the street a day earlier. Boulter was at the downtown Las Vegas courthouse, along with a few other Arbor View High School students, to show support for Scott's family and friends. "It's very awful there," Boulter said. "When I used to walk to school every morning, you had to be very careful in that crosswalk. There needs to be better lights and better enforcement." Pedestrian safety has been squarely in the local media spotlight in the wake of Scott's death and the May 6 death of pedestrian Joree Odabi, 23, of Las Vegas. Odabi was pronounced dead after being struck, police said, by an alleged impaired driver near Warm Springs Road and Torrey Pines Drive. Days after Scott died, supporters came out for a "Justice for McKenzie" march near the crosswalk, which is on North Buffalo Drive in front of the school. Ashley Brewer was one of them. Her son, a ninth-grader at Arbor View, was struck while riding his bicycle in the same crosswalk on April 11. He suffered a spiral fracture of his right leg, Brewer said. "I would rather be here, being the one to get hurt, than have one of these kids get hit," Brewer said that day. "With my son, the tires (of the Toyota) were inches from his head." 'Thankfully, outrage is possible' Anytime a pedestrian dies in a traffic crash, it's a tragedy, but Scott's death seems to have struck a nerve. "The community has responded in a way that tells me that, thankfully, outrage is possible," said Erin Breen, long an advocate for pedestrian safety in the valley. "McKenzie Scott is one of a group of recent young people killed as vulnerable road users in our community." Breen is the director of the Road Equity Alliance Project, which is part of UNLV's Transportation Research Center. For nearly 30 years, she's fought to help make Las Vegas Valley roads safer. "Walking has been an issue in southern Nevada for decades," Breen said. "There hasn't been a year that I've been in the traffic safety education business when we didn't see the results of streets built for cars and not people." From the period from Jan. 1 through through May 4 in Las Vegas, according to Metropolitan Police Department statistics, pedestrian fatalities were actually down 19% from the same time in 2024, from 27 to 22. But, as Breen points out, the 2024 totals - when there were 63 fatal pedestrian/vehicle crashes in Metro's jurisdiction in 2024 - might not be the best year in which to gauge success or failure. "In 2024, we came dangerously close to 100 pedestrian lives lost in all of Clark County," Breen said. "The number was 97. By contrast, in 2009, there were 29." Still, the most recent statistics from the Nevada Department of Public Safety show that overall pedestrian deaths in Clark County for the first four months of 2025 were down 26% from the same period in 2024. While Breen tends to veer toward calling out drivers as the main culprits, officer Robert Wicks, a Metro spokesperson, said pedestrians have to also be aware of their surroundings. Of the fatal pedestrian crashes this year through May 7 in Metro's jurisdiction, Wicks said, pedestrians were found to be at fault 60% of the time. "A lot of times, people are crossing where they shouldn't be crossing and that's part of the issue," Wicks said. "It's a community-wide issue. It's not just traffic and it's not just pedestrians. Everybody has to be aware of what they're doing and they have to abide by the laws." In the case where Brewer's son was hit in the crosswalk outside Arbor View, a Metro police report stated that the boy "darted into the roadway," which resulted in him being "found at fault." Brewer disagrees with the report's finding. She said the past few weeks have been difficult and that she's gone through bouts of anger, partly because she tried to warn of the dangers of the crosswalk before Scott's death. On April 25, Brewer sent an email to the Clark County School District Police Department's traffic bureau. In the email, she called the stretch of Buffalo Drive in front of Arbor View "unsafe" and a "hostile environment." At the end of the email, she asks how she could go about petitioning for a crossing guard for the crosswalk "or at least some type of flashing lights for the crosswalk." Brewer said she never received a response to her email. A school district spokesperson, in an email, advised that a public records request would have to be made about the email for them to comment. Possible solutions In the wake of Scott's death, a Las Vegas spokesperson Jace Radke said in an email that the city "is conducting a traffic study in the area, which will require the collection of data and take some time." "We can share that all the traffic control and safety devices, signage and crosswalks are functioning properly and are appropriately located around the school," Radke said in the email. Radke also said the city is in the middle of a pilot program that has crossing guards at Cimarron High School and Gibson Middle School. Some middle schools in the valley have crossing guards, but most do not. As of this month, Cimarron is the only high school in the school district that has crossing guards. The program - which is said to explore the effectiveness of having crossing guards at secondary schools and not just elementary schools - will run through the end of this month, Radke said. Most experts seem to agree - the solution for having safer streets and sidewalks will likely need to be a multipronged effort. It likely would need to include enhanced crosswalk infrastructure, more flashing lights, more attentive pedestrians and, yes, drivers who follow the law, stakeholders say. "There's a lot of things that go into it - education, enforcement and engineering," Wicks said. "But things would be more under control if people followed the laws that are in place. We wouldn't have as many fatalities." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas high school students push for change; school district outlines jurisdiction
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – In one week, Las Vegas high school students turned a memorial into a motive for change, but the school district is drawing a line on where their responsibilities begin and end. During a morning Clark County School District news conference, school leaders expressed grief following the death of 18-year-old McKenzie Scott. She was killed Thursday when police said an alleged drunk driver struck her while she walked through a crosswalk in front of Arbor View High School. 'Please remain vigilant and cautious in the areas near our schools the safety of our students is a shared responsibility,' CCSD Police Chief Henry Blackeye said. 'We must continue to work together to protect and support them.' The topic crossed into an afternoon CCSD School Board meeting, where Arbor View High School Students cited each of their requests. 'I love them to put in a pedestrian activated beacon, talking to different construction companies, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon, even repainting the crossing walk that is fairly faded, a speed bump,' Hannah Cohn, a student, said. 'Also addressing the miles per hour on Buffalo [Drive]. It's 40 miles per hour during the school hours, which are very short.' Cohn said she understood some of the responsibility remains on the City of Las Vegas, which has examined the crosswalk for possible further improvement. 'I'm aware that the city is more in charge of making change of crossing guards and putting in construction and getting things into motion,' Cohn said. 'But the voice of CCSD as a board themselves, is a huge push for the city, for them to actually get stuff done. So, it's just having the board support.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas driver accused of killing student was 3 times legal limit after DUI arrest: police
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The driver accused of killing a Las Vegas high school senior was more than three times the legal limit, according to a preliminary test taken after the fatal crash. Keenan Jackson, 37, faces felony charges for DUI resulting in death, reckless driving, and a misdemeanor for driving without a valid license, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. Jackson is accused of driving impaired and hitting and killing McKenzie Scott on Friday, May 2, on Buffalo Drive near Arbor View High School, police said. A witness told police she spoke to Jackson after the crash. He said he had just gone to Starbucks and lived around the corner, police said. The first officer to arrive at the crash site contacted Jackson, noticing he smelled of alcohol with an 'unsteady gait, slurred, mumbled and slow speech.' The officer also noted Jackson 'was falling over while walking,' documents said. Jackson told officers he does not drink and last smoked marijuana two weeks ago, documents said. His preliminary breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.29 — more than three times the legal limit of 0.08. During Jackson's first court appearance, Jackson's public defender said Jackson moved to Las Vegas in December and recently started a new job. The prosecutor recognized Jackson's lack of criminal history but said he could be a danger to the community and a flight risk. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer set Jackson's bail at $500,000. Jackson remained in custody as of Monday. Scott's mother created a GoFundMe for funeral costs. As of Monday, it had raised nearly $30,000 of its $50,000 goal. Jackson's blood test results were not in court documents. They, not the preliminary blood screening, are admissible in court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Judge sets $500K bail for alleged driver in suspected DUI crash that killed Las Vegas teen
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The suspected driver in the crash that killed 18-year-old Arbor View High School student McKenzie Scott made his first appearance in court Saturday. Keenan Jackson, 37, faces felony charges for DUI resulting in death, reckless driving and a misdemeanor for driving without a valid license. Jackson's public defender said he moved to Las Vegas in December and recently started a new job. The state attorney recognized Jackson's lack of criminal history but said he could be a danger to the community and a flight risk. Las Vegas Justice Court judge Daniel Westmeyer set Jackson's bail at $500,000. 'If posted, the defendant is to stay out of trouble,' Westmeyer said. 'He is not to operate a motor vehicle, and he will be placed on high-level electronic monitoring.' Scott's classmates went to court Saturday morning to watch the bail hearing. One of them, Arbor View senior Brayden Boulter, said she was more than a classmate. High school senior identified as victim of suspected DUI crash in Las Vegas 'There at Arbor View, we're not just a school, and we're not even just a community. Over there, we're a family,' Boulter said. 'I mean, anything that happens in each other's lives, we always try to pick each other up, and a loss like this, it's like losing a brother or sister, you know?' Boulter and his classmates are hopeful the legal process leads to justice. He agrees with the judge's bail decision. 'I think it's very fair,' Boulter said. 'I hope the man, gets through this time and that he finds a piece of himself in that he can make right for what he's done, and I just pray for everyone in the situation involved, family on both sides.' Saturday was also Arbor View's prom and the students said it would continue, but it wouldn't be the same. McKenzie Scott's mother created a GoFundMe for funeral costs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
High School Senior Dies After Being Struck by Vehicle Weeks Before Her Graduation: 'A Beautiful Girl with a Bright Smile'
Police in Las Vegas arrested and charged a man they say struck and killed an 18-year-old high school senior with his vehicle near her school, just weeks before her graduation, on May 2 Friends and family have since identified the student as McKenzie Scott of Arbor View High School, per local outlets 'Every person she came in contact with, they were happier in her presence," one student told local media during a vigil for the teen A Las Vegas man has been arrested and charged after police say he fatally struck a high school student with his car near her school campus — only weeks away from her graduation. On Friday, May 2, at around 11:25 a.m. local time, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) learned of a crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of North Buffalo Drive and Grand Teton Drive, just outside of the main entrance of Arbor View High School, authorities announced on Facebook. The pedestrian died after being transported to a local hospital, while the driver of the vehicle was "arrested on scene," per the LVMPD. 'Unfortunately today, we have a senior in this high school who is not going to be able to put on her cap and gown and walk down to receive her diploma,' Metro Lt. Anthony Cavaricci said in his department's Facebook video, adding that the student's death marked the 59th traffic-related fatality in the jurisdiction this year. 'It's extremely sad. Slow down, Las Vegas." During a May 2 vigil, students and family identified the victim as 18-year-old McKenzie Scott, a senior at Arbor View, who was set to graduate 25 days after the fatal crash, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Her family also confirmed her identity to NBC affiliate KSNV, calling her a promising student with a full-ride scholarship and hopes of becoming a crime scene investigator. A spokesperson for the LVMPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, May 3. Per the Review-Journal, police have since identified the driver in the fatal incident as 37-year-old Las Vegas resident Keenan Jackson, whom they say 'failed to yield the right of way' while driving a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu before he allegedly hit the student. According to the outlet, Jackson 'showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing' and was booked at the Clark County Detention Center. He has since been charged with DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death or serious bodily harm, and driving without a valid license, per the jail's website. On May 3, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer set Jackson's bail at $500,000, the Review-Journal reported. Outside of court, Brayden Boulter, a senior at Arbor View, said the school community decided to come together to mourn Scott. 'It's the beginning of May and it's that month where we're looking at new beginnings for our lives,' Boulter said, per the Review-Journal. "We were all on cloud nine [on Friday]. During fifth period, we heard that our grad walk got canceled out of nowhere, then the rumors started getting around about what happened. The energy we had did a complete 180.' Boulter also described the section of the road where Scott was struck as an "awful" area. 'That's a hard street to pass as a pedestrian," he told the Review-Journal. "You have to be very careful in that crosswalk because there's a U-turn spot there, and there just needs to be better enforcement and better lights there. There needs to be some sort of signal or something there.' In response to the loss, students helped put together a makeshift memorial for Scott on May 2, featuring candles, flowers, signs and stuffed animals left by students and loved ones outside of campus. Adrianna Ornelas, a fellow senior, told reporters that Scott 'was a beautiful girl with a bright smile.' 'She was a bright sun on a very dark road,' Ornelas said, according to the Review-Journal. 'Every person she came in contact with, they were happier in her presence.' Arbor View Principal Duane Bickmore wrote in a letter to the school community that the school was "mourning the loss of this young life," per the Review-Journal, while Clark County School District Superintendent Jhone Ebert wrote in an X statement that Scott's death was an "unimaginable loss." "She was a senior — full of promise, nearing graduation and looking forward to a bright future," the statement read. "In this time of sorrow, I urge our community to come together. Please remain vigilant and cautious, especially in areas near our schools. The safety of our students is a shared responsibility, and we must continue working together to protect and support them." Scott's mother has since launched a GoFundMe, describing her daughter as someone who was "full of light, hope and kindness." She is survived by her younger brother Kasen and her mother Tiffany, per the fundraiser. Her community has since raised more than $15,000 as of May 3. "Donations will go to funeral and burial costs and helping her family," the GoFundMe states. "Please pray to give them the strength they need to get through this. Our hearts are broken, and we are all absolutely devastated." Read the original article on People
