LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Exactly one month after a middle school student was fatally hit while walking to school in the northwest valley, FOX5 Investigates learned the intersection where he was struck was flagged as unsafe weeks beforehand.
Cristofer Suarez, 12, was struck in a suspected DUI hit-and-run crash on Oct. 3. He spent the weekend on life support at UMC before passing away on the following Monday. His mother told FOX5 that Cristofer had a mariachi performance the night he was hit. He was on his way into J.D. Smith Middle School early to practice.
“He was very smart, and that is the thing that is hurting me the most, and I feel like I can’t cry anymore,” said Martina Suarez, Cristofer’s mother.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Cristofer was walking on 21st Street toward Owens Avenue. He had just stepped off the curb to begin crossing Owens Avenue when he was hit.
After Cristofer was hit, FOX5 requested emails or documents from the Clark County School District related to pedestrian safety concerns near J.D. Smith Middle School since the start of 2025. In return, the station received emails showing a safety concern was flagged at the exact intersection where Cristofer was hit weeks beforehand, and stakeholders were scheduled to meet in the area two days after he died.
On Sept. 18, 2025, approximately two weeks before Cristofer was struck, members of CCSD’s “Safe Routes to School” team watched drop-off at J.D. Smith Middle School. According to emails obtained by FOX5, their initial concerns included drivers speeding and disregarding students along both Owens and McDaniels.
They listed recommendations, including making changes to the school’s drop-off system and scheduled a follow-up observation for Oct. 8.
Four days after that first observation, on Sept. 22, a J.D. Smith Middle School teacher alerted the school’s principal that she had watched a student get hit by a truck at the same intersection where Cristofer was killed.
The email read: “I don’t want a tragedy to occur before we deem that a cross guard, traffic lights, or stop signs are necessary.”
Exactly 11 days later, Suarez was hit and later killed.
Safe Routes to School did conduct a follow-up observation at the intersection. CCSD’s Safe Route coordinator sent out another email on the Monday Cristofer died, suggesting additional changes, which were made. The changes included refreshing crosswalk markings, keeping school flashers on during drop-off and pickup, and adding crossing guards to the intersection.
A CCSD Spokesperson provided the following information:
CCSD Safe Routes to School regularly conducts observations around school campuses when requested by school staff.
During the visits, Safe Routes to School observes student, parent, and driver behavior on and around school campuses. Following the September observation, Safe Routes to School reached out to municipal partners to share concerns and coordinate a follow-up observation that was set for October 8, 2025.
CCSD does not have authority over road infrastructure. The district encourages community members to share road safety concerns with the local municipality in charge of the road. CCSD has created a website to assist the public in determining the appropriate municipality when reporting concerns.
A City of Las Vegas spokesperson provided the following information:
The cities of North Las Vegas and Las Vegas reviewed the intersection at Owens Avenue and 21st Street and the following actions were taken.
- The school flashers near the intersection were extended to ensure that they are active during the times that students are walking to and from nearby middle and elementary schools. Previously these flashers were only active during times that high school students were walking to and from school as they are located adjacent to Rancho High School. Now the flashers are operational from:
- 6:30 – 8:15 a.m.
- 1:10 – 2:41 p.m.
- The crosswalk at the intersection was refreshed so that it is more visible for drivers and pedestrians.
- Signage was added to make sure pedestrians and bicyclists know to cross on the west side of the intersection at the painted crosswalk and not on the east side of the intersection where there is no crosswalk
- The city of Las Vegas is currently in design for a full traffic signal to be installed at the intersection. The design is about 30% complete, and the signal is scheduled to be constructed in 2026.
The city of Las Vegas did make the above enhancements as we had a crew available at the time. Going forward North Las Vegas will maintain the cross walk and signage and the city of Las Vegas will maintain the flashers and the future traffic signal. While the above safety enhancements have occurred, or are scheduled for the intersection, the key variable is for drivers to take care and make safe choices on our roadways so that pedestrians are safe.
A City of North Las Vegas spokesperson provided the following information:
The city of North Las Vegas assigned two crossing guards to work at the intersection of Owens and 21st in the mornings from 6:30-8:15 a.m. and afternoons from 1:30-2:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 20. These crossing guards are for Squires Elementary and Smith Middle school students who cross at that intersection but there will be an added benefit to the Rancho High students as well. City of North Las Vegas contracts with All City Management Services to provide crossing guard services at public elementary and middle schools throughout the city.
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