LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s has seen nearly 1,000 hit-and-run cases in just the first few months of 2025.
The agency’s weekly traffic statistics from the start of the year to April 6 show 989 hit-and-run cases so far and that’s down 17 percent from this time in 2024.
Sergeant Aaron Contreras of the Department’s Hit-And-Run Detail said impairment, lack of insurance and fear are some of the biggest reasons why drivers leave a scene. He explained sometimes people don’t know the law requires the drivers involved to exchange names, drivers licenses and insurance information.
The five-person unit has close 20 percent of cases in 2025 so far. Sgt. Contreras believes technology like the license plate readers around the county have helped the team close cases but the more information drivers can gather and give police about a hit-and-run, the better.
“We all have smart phones. Take a picture of their plates, take a picture of their car, take a picture of their damage,” Sgt. Contreras continued. “If you can, describe them. That’s the best thing that we find. And then if we don’t have that, when all we have to go off is so little, it makes it challenging for us.“
He said another challenge is when victims wait to report hit-and-runs.
“When it comes to delayed reporting, sometimes people come in a week later, two weeks later and by the time it gets to me and my detectives, we’re 2, 3, 4 weeks down the road and we’re already behind the curve when it comes to investigating your claim.”
Hit-and-run drivers can face anywhere from a citation to prison time depending on the severity of the crash.
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