Child struck by SUV, hospitalized

A 12-year-old boy who was struck by a car was taken to the hospital Tuesday morning in critical condition.

The crash happened in the 500 block of North Lamb Boulevard, between East Bonanza Road and East Stewart Avenue, about 7:30 a.m., Las Vegas police said.

A 2005 Nissan Altima, traveling north on Lamb Boulevard in the right lane, was approaching Diamond Head Drive when the 12-year-old entered the street and was hit, police said.

The boy was not in a marked crosswalk, according to police.

The child was taken to the University Medical Center pediatric unit. He was listed in critical condition, but police said the boy was stable as of Thursday morning.

Ninety-five people have been killed in traffic-related crashes in the Metropolitan Police Department’s jurisdiction this year, which is slightly below last year’s numbers. Of those killed, 37 were pedestrians.

“This is a community problem” said traffic bureau Capt. Mark Tavarez at a press conference outside the Las Vegas police Traffic Bureau at 8445 Eldora Avenue, near Durango Drive and Sahara Avenue.

A big reason for the high number of crashes resulting in critical injuries or fatalities, Tavarez said, is that people are not paying attention to what they are doing, whether they are driving or walking.

“The most frustrating part is that they’re preventable,” Tavarez said. “You have to pay attention when you’re driving or walking in this valley.”

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 383-4638.