Motorcyclist killed Thursday in hit and run was Metro Police Explorer
An 18-year-old was killed Thursday evening when his motorcycle and a car were involved in a hit-and-run collision.
According to Las Vegas police, Angel Velasquez, a Metropolitan Police Department Explorer, was riding his 2013 Honda east on East Sahara Avenue near South Van Patten Street about 7 p.m. A 2013 Volkswagen turning west onto Sahara caused the motorcyclist to go into a slide, and the motorcycle hit the Volkswagen. The Volkswagen driver left the scene.
Velasquez was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Police located the Volkswagen driver, Jvon Williams, 29, at his home.
Williams failed multiple field sobriety tests, his arrest report said. He was arrested on charges of suspicion of driving under the influence and felony hit and run.
Velasquez became a Explorer at 16, and his goals were to eventually join Las Vegas police, according to a police press release.
He became a captain with a test score of 98 after three months in the program. He was studying criminal justice at College of Southern Nevada, helped out at many police events and went on two ride-alongs each week to prepare for his future, his Explorer supervisor, officer Krista Bullard, said.
“He was an energizing leader,” Bullard said. “He was our go-to guy.”
The Explorers who worked with Velasquez will be holding a car wash to help with funeral costs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Brake Masters, Windmill Lane and Eastern Avenue.
A bank fund has been set up in Velasquez’ name. For more information, go to lvmpdexplorers.com.
The hit and run remains under investigation by Las Vegas police. This was the 59th traffic-related fatality in the Las Vegas Police jurisdiction this year.
Contact Annalise Porter at aporter@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0391.