Las Vegas man killed in hit-and-run ID’d as police seek 2nd driver
The man killed Friday night after he was struck by two cars in a hit-and-run in the east valley has been identified as a 66-year-old Las Vegas man.
James Taite died in what Las Vegas police described as a hit-and-run that involved a motorist suspected of driving under the influence.
Taite was crossing Maryland Parkway near Twain Avenue, outside of a marked crosswalk, at 9:22 p.m. when a 2003 Ford Escape struck him, police said. Another car then struck Taite and dragged him an unspecified distance before fleeing the scene, police said.
The driver of the Ford, Brandon Lopes, 19, of Vallejo, California, attempted to run from the crash after a gunshot was heard from his car and was quickly apprehended by officers with a gunshot wound to his leg, according to a recently released arrest report.
An open bottle of Patron tequila was found on the floor behind the passenger seat, the report said.
Lopes was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence resulting in death, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, possession of stolen property and being a prohibited person in possession of a gun.
Police said shortly after the crash that they were working to find the driver of the second vehicle.
Lopes is being held at the Clark County Detention Center and has a court status check set for Monday morning, jail records show.
Contact Glenn Puit by email at gpuit@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter.
