More than 100 children have been struck by vehicles in the Las Vegas Valley since the start of the school year, more than doubling the number of such incidents compared to the same time period in both 2023 and 2024. Law enforcement agencies reported at least 108 crashes involving child pedestrians from August 11 to October 9—compared to just 41 during similar periods in previous years. This number is nearly equal to the total number of children hit during the entire previous school year, which saw 120 incidents.
Of those 120 incidents last year, 57 involved Clark County School District students: 35 pedestrians, 11 on bikes, five on scooters, five on electric scooters, and one on an electric bike. The data, provided by the school district and local police agencies, only includes weekday incidents between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Officials partly attribute the rising numbers to improved reporting and data collection, but the spike has drawn significant concern, especially after several fatal collisions involving young students. Recent deaths include Cristofer Suarez, 12, who was hit by a suspected reckless driver; Haylee Ryan, 12, struck by a school bus; and McKenzie Scott, 18, killed by an impaired driver. Other recent fatalities involved children using mopeds or electric scooters.
These tragedies have galvanized parents, some of whom have formed advocacy groups like Walk Safely LV, volunteering as crossing guards and pushing for safer school zones. Local officials, including Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, are urging the community to take personal responsibility when driving near schools and to treat each incident as a call to action.
A newly established Traffic Safety Working Group is analyzing school zone safety data and plans to develop a phased safety plan by spring. While overall pedestrian fatalities in Clark County have decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, child-involved crashes have risen, prompting questions about root causes.
Experts cite several factors:
- Children are unpredictable and may enter roadways without warning.
- Both drivers and pedestrians are often distracted by mobile devices.
- Many drivers ignore school zone speed limits.
- Children, due to their size, are at higher risk of serious injury if struck.
- The popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters among children has contributed to the increase in collisions, with about 35 percent of incidents involving such devices.
- Speeding, larger vehicles, and poor pedestrian infrastructure (such as wide, multi-lane roads) exacerbate the risks.
In response, local governments are making infrastructure changes, such as improving crosswalk visibility and planning for new traffic lights at dangerous intersections. Officials and advocates recommend proven measures like increasing the number of crossing guards near schools and requiring wider buffers between sidewalks and roadways on new streets.
A new state law allows school districts to install cameras on school bus stop arms to catch and cite drivers who illegally pass stopped buses, a move officials hope will improve student safety.
Despite these efforts, authorities stress that the solution also requires cultural and behavioral changes: drivers must stay alert and obey traffic laws, and parents should educate children on safe travel practices, particularly when using bikes and e-scooters. The hope is that, with technology, enforcement, and community engagement, the valley can one day see a school year without any children being struck by vehicles.