2 dead in crash police blamed on unlicensed driver going 140 mph identified by coroner
Officials on Thursday identified an unlicensed driver who sped through a southwest valley stop sign at more than 140 mph, causing a fiery two-vehicle crash that police said left him and another driver dead.
Las Vegas police called it a “preventable disaster” in a social media post on X.
“The destruction on our roads is unacceptable,” the post said. “Reckless driving, speeding, and impaired driving are choices that cost lives.”
The Metropolitan Police Department said in the Wednesday post that the unlicensed driver, a 35-year-old North Las Vegas man who had been behind the wheel of a 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, had 16 prior offenses.
The Clark County coroner’s office on Thursday identified the 35-year-old as Aldo Hernandez Calderon and the other driver as Xiang He, 61.
According to a Metro news release, the Hellcat was speeding north toward a four-way stop at South Torrey Pines Drive and West Robindale Road at about 9:40 p.m.
At the same time, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz SUV, driven by He, was traveling west on Robindale. As the SUV drove through the intersection, the Hellcat failed to stop at the stop sign, police said.
The front of the Hellcat struck the left side of the Mercedes-Benz, redirecting both vehicles to the north, the news release said. The Hellcat struck trees and landscaping before coming to a stop at the side of the road. The Mercedes-Benz rotated and came to a stop after leaving the road.
Emergency medical personnel arrived and determined both drivers were beyond resuscitation.
Photos of the mangled Hellcat were posted to Metro’s X account.
“Please slow down, don’t drink and drive, and follow traffic laws,” the post said. “Together, we can prevent more senseless deaths.”
The deaths of the drivers marked the 118th and 119th traffic-related deaths in Metro’s jurisdiction in 2024. The crash remained under investigation.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.