Police investigate pedestrian deaths on I-15

Two of three pedestrians crossing Interstate 15 during the past week have been struck by vehicles and killed, but Nevada Highway Patrol officials said they have not determined a link among the incidents.

Officials said the investigations were ongoing, and it was unknown whether alcohol was a factor in causing the people to cross the most heavily traveled highway in the state.

“What would make you attempt to cross seven lanes of traffic; I don’t know,” Sgt. Kevin Honea said.

The most recent incident came early Friday morning when a man was hit in the southbound lanes near Flamingo Road. He was hospitalized and was expected to survive.

The other two pedestrians died, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled both deaths were accidental, not suicides.

On Thursday about 4:45 a.m. Esteban Delafuente, 26, was killed while crossing the southbound lanes near Russell Road. The Indio, Calif., man was struck by a silver sport utility vehicle, according to the Highway Patrol.

On May 20 Daniel Walker, 46, was killed while crossing near Flamingo Road about 1:30 a.m. He was struck by a black Nissan pickup.

Pedestrian accidents on the highways are rare, Honea said.

“To have two in the same summer is bizarre,” he said. “To have three in the same week is just kind of unbelievable.”

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.